Challenging Creativity

There can be no other word but CHALLENGE for a project like this.  The last time I felt as challenged was when I stopped smoking, day 3 almost had me lighting up again.

What this weekend has taught me is that one must pack for every eventuality, because who can tell what catches the eye on a given day.   Inadequate and frustrated is all you’ll get.  Armed with only my 50mm lens and my 100mm -400mm lens I almost threw in the towel. 

Years ago we had an infamous photographer working for the local newspaper who, time and again arrived for a shoot without a film in his camera.  He was a disaster and everyone panicked when they saw his old jalopy on the horizon because chances were slim that he’d be 100% prepared.   Thank goodness nothing serious happens in sleepy hollow, if it did we’d not have had it on record.

So a check must be done before going out with a camera:

• Batteries fully charged
• Spare batteries fully charged
• Extra Memory cards, formatted
• Appropriate lenses for the task
• Bean bag
• Tri-pod
• Lens wipes
• Something warm to wear

Imagine planning a trip to the ocean, setting yourself up, balancing that huge 500mm lens,  patiently waiting for the Humpback whale to come flying out of the water and when it does, just meters from your precarious position on the rocks, with its calf following right behind, you focus, click and NOTHING...   Battery dead. It happens.

Sunsets on the Saltpan always promise something exciting.   Last night the Flamingos were our treat, they glided in silently just before the last rays disappeared. They're gracious and almost swan-like in their elegance and serenity, like ballet dancers in tutus.  The tiny Red Knobbed Coot hatchling was an unexpected sighting, and I hope his Mother found him.