November 11, 2011

Lone Tree and Always Stop

It was autumn and I was driving on I-70 just outside of Kansas City when it started to rain.  The hills were covered in a dense forest of bare trees and as they soaked in the water, they turned black…except for this one lone white tree.  Instantly I could see the potential for this image and I knew that I had to have it!

But I had already gone too far and so I had to travel several miles further until I could exit and turn around.  Then I drove back past the lone tree a second time (but this time on the wrong side of the freeway) and traveled several miles further until I could exit and turn around again.  I did this several times until I could find a spot where I could safely stop and hike to the right vantage point.

Then in the rain and wearing business clothes, I traipsed down a hill and sloshed through a muddy bog just to find just the right location.  I’m not saying my trek was as tough as the pioneers had it crossing the plains, but it certainly would have been much easier to stay in my car, turn up the heat and act as though I hadn’t seen that damned lone tree!

However it was worth it, I like how the image turned out and this was just another in a long line of experiences that taught me to ALWAYS STOP when I see a great image.  (See http://www.photographyblackwhite.com/photographs-create-images/Yes, it would have been easier to keep going and yes, sometimes I do convince myself that I’ll come back later and get the shot.  But my experiences have taught me that there’s rarely a second chance.

Always stop.

Cole

P.S.  If I’d have seen this tree in the summertime, there’s no way I’d have stopped unless I had 100% DEET on my shoes, socks and pants.  There’s a whole nother story about “chiggers” that I’ll have to tell sometime.  I think I’ll title it “Chiggers: The Gift That Keeps On Giving” or “Why Pouring Gasoline On Your Legs And Lighting Them Might Sometimes Be A Good Idea!”

 

 

15 thoughts on “Lone Tree and Always Stop

  1. Great story Cole, thank you for sharing. I agree with you as I have made the mistake of saying ” I’ll come back later and get the shot”. I also need to make sure my camera is always with me…

    It would be fun to see a photo of what you looked like after this adventure… wink wink… sounds messy….. 😉

  2. Great shot and story! I have lots of photos of Wyoming at 80 mph because my husband will not stop. Maybe if I show him your story he will reconsider.

  3. Great shot, Cole… definitely worth the “trouble”. The things we sometimes do just to realize our vision into print. Keep the good work.

  4. I had same issue with my (ex) significant other as Mary…he wouldn’t stop so I could capture an image. I decided the images were more important…that’s why he is an “ex” now. 😎

  5. Hello,
    a wonderful photograph, looks to me almost like a painting to me.
    I completely agree with your conclusion to always stop when you see a photograph, but I do not always manage to do so (especially if I am not alone and have to make somebody else wait for me).

  6. Wow, we already have a theme going here. It is very hard for me to photograph with other people, I am so concerned about inconveniencing them.

    I’ll sometime tell the story behind Clouds (http://colethompsonphotography.com/FavoritesImages.htm#Clouds) and how I was just minutes away from not creating this image.

    I do always carry my camera and I do try to stop, even if someone is inconvenienced or I’m late. If you’re not driving however, I think Becky has the right idea! (smile)

    Cole

  7. A friend of mine who ponied up the 5 grand for a week with Jay Maisel in NY says for the opening lecture, Jay walks in and says:”how many here consider themselves serious photographers?” Every hand in the room went up.

    Then Jay says, “how many here have their cameras with them for this lecture?”. 5 hands went up. “Those people”, Jay said, “are the serious photographers. Always have a camera with you!”.

    Fair enough. But to trapse through unknown, uneven terrain at night in the rain, wearing business clothes? I’ll get up at 4 am anyday, and usually am the last guy on the beach, still shooting after the light is gone, but to do what you did, and to smell like a wet dog for a white tree…I’m embarrassed. I probably would have stayed in the car. But Cole, you are an inspiration, man.

  8. I agree with Frida, the shots I didn’t stop for do still haunt me after months, years even, and it’s because they sit there at the back of my memory store sending out heavy regret vibes, that I always try to stop when I see a good ‘un now, I can’t take the self-recrimination anymore! 🙂 I can see why you went back for this shot, tho, Cole, this would have been big on self-recrimination for me if I’d carried on driving, a starkly beautiful scene…well worth the stinky feet!

  9. Although I always have a camera with me (it may not be my DSLR, but a high quality point-and-shoot, or sometimes only the new iPhone), and try to make myself always stop, I often don’t when it’s inconvenient–the access to the shot, time restraints, or feeling tired after a long day at work. However, the next time I come upon a potential photograph, I’ll also have your story and beautiful image in my head for added motivation. I think I’ll also keep a change of clothes in my trunk so that I won’t mind having to walk through the muck. Although scouting and preparing for a photograph is important, it’s often more fun to be surprised by the unexpected. This is truly a beautiful image.

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