There was an explosion of color this morning. Typically I will make anywhere from 30 to 40 photographs on a given morning and choose the best one after viewing them all on my computer. Such was the case this morning, and as you could imagine, it was difficult to choose a photo for today because there was a constantly churning kaleidoscope of clouds and light which changed the scene every few minutes.
Nature makes it easy for me on mornings like this. But, as I’ve learned, getting the most out of an image requires much more than a simply pointing and shooting.
My morning routine begins at night before I go to bed, when I make sure everything I am going to wear the next morning is easily accessible and the equipment I plan on using is all set up and ready to go. It isn’t easy fumbling around in the dark in the morning when you are in a rush to capture the sunrise, not to mention with an easily-wakeable sleeping infant nearby. So I am sure to get everything ready ahead of time to ensure I’ll be able to get out of the house as quickly and quietly as possible.
When I wake up, I peak out the window to survey the scene and determine if I need to change the lens or filter on my camera in order to fit the conditions. That way, I won’t have to worry about it when I get outside and I can just focus on shooting. Plus, it’s bitter cold this time of year, and I want to minimize the amount of camera setup I’ll need to do when I’m outside wearing gloves. Finally, I step out the door with only my bare bones necessary equipment for that morning, keeping me light and nimble.
So, although Mother Nature deserves all the credit for a photograph like this one, I need to make sure I am able to do her justice with the right preparation and the right techniques with the right equipment, which can be challenging but has gotten somewhat easier due to a good routine.