The places I visit are rarely spectacular in themselves. Their name doesn't stand on tourism maps. Rather, they are most of the time simple and ordinary places. In fact many people would pass by without a second glance at the scene, perhaps just intrigued at what in the world could make a photographer stop here.
But for whoever takes the time to explore them at different times throughout the day and over the seasons, the simple places can hide treasures of beauty. The shaded greens of the springtime, the bright and vivid fall colors, the graphical simplicity of the winter as well as the spectacular skies and lighting of a weather changing day, the mystery of a misty day, the immaculate aspect of a snow coat or the enchanting display of a day of frost, all those elements can turn what would otherwise be an ordinary sight, into pure beauty.
Harsh daylight does not suit landscape photography very well. In the prospect of having the best light, I often find myself crossing on the mountain trails the hikers who are walking down at the end of the day. I will stay there until the sun has set, and keep photographing after the winds have calmed, when the gentle light coming from nowhere reveals the finest details and the most subtle tones. The way down is often with a flashlight, but the mind filled with eager thoughts, having hopefully boxed some interesting views.
Managing the weather conditions and their effects on the places one intends to visit is almost impossible. Therefore, to have good chances to seize something worthy on film, one needs to be out often and in all weather conditions. When eventually the conditions meet to produce a striking view, the photographer is overwhelmed by a sense of urgency. Fighting his contemplative nature and the inertia caused by the long wait, the exhausting walk or the desire to simply enjoy and not miss anything from the scene, he rushes to the bag whilst mentally framing a picture. He mounts the camera on the tripod, fits a lens to it, focusses the reversed ground glass view and loads a sheet of film. Then he has to make accurate measurements of the fleeting light and expose rapidly one or two sheets of film. I can't say how many photographs I have missed for not being able to complete the whole process in time, or for having had to wait endlessly for the wind to calm. But, chance always rewards perseverance, even if I believe that there must be more than mere chance. And when a nice image stands before your eyes, the days of doubt and the unfruitful waits vanish almost instantly. You have but one thought: returning to harvest more of those delicate lights.
