This article is an evolution of the notes that I jotted down while deciding which images to include in the 2021 installment of Waypoints. I thought it might provide some insight into the thinking that goes into my selections for this series.
So without further ado, here are some thoughts about each of the images I chose from 2021.
Specters of the Garrison | 4 January, 2021#
When I woke up to a rare fog advisory one January morning, I sprung out of bed, grabbed my camera, and immediately left for a local county park that my wife and I frequent with our dogs.
I felt totally in the zone when I made this image, but I included it in Waypoints 2021 because of the challenge it presented to me during post processing.
When I was working on this panorama, I got hung up on the gap between the pair of dark trees on the right third of the image. There was another panorama sequence in which I liked the alignment of the trees in that gap better, but on the whole, that panorama wasn’t as strong compositionally as this one. I must have spent hours working to blend in the framing I liked into this panorama.
But when I’d finally accomplished what I set out to do, I no longer had the same feeling about this image. Instead, I felt like it had lost something by becoming more compositionally “perfect.” And most importantly, it no longer felt authentic to me. Making this change did not elevate the image like I thought it would.
At that point, I completely scrapped the file and started anew with the original panorama sequence that I liked: the one that resulted in the image you see here. For a while, it was impossible for me to see past what I originally perceived as a missed opportunity for a better image. But now when I look back at this image, I appreciate it all the more for its authenticity to the moment that I experienced.
Fleeting | 23 April, 2021#
It seems that I experience some degree of creative rut every spring (though I’m not sure why), but the one I experienced 2021 hit harder than most years. I felt disillusioned with photography. My ambition had completely flatlined.
I visited a friend in Colorado in April, and we spent half a day in Rocky Mountain National Park. I had my camera and made a few forgettable images. As we were leaving the park, however, we were overtaken by a fast-moving snowstorm unlike anything I have ever experienced. One minute, the sun was shining, and the next, we were enveloped in swirling snow. Naturally, we pulled over and began wandering with our cameras. The storm quickly passed, but not before a fleeting moment in which the sun broke through the clouds and briefly illuminated the area, including snowflakes that were still lingering in the air. This image is the result of working quickly to make something of nature’s show.
The experience of being caught up in that brief but spectacular moment was just what I needed. It served as a reminder to open my eyes and take in the fleeting nature of life’s experiences, both the highs and the lows. This image is now one of my favorites and will always remind me of the lesson I learned that day.
Maine 2021 / 1 | 30 July, 2021#
In July, I spent a couple days backpacking in Maine for a friend’s bachelor party. I didn’t bring my photography gear, but that didn’t stop me from using my phone to take a few snapshots during our hike. I found it refreshing to use a tool that made taking a photo as quick and effortless as possible. I was able to whip it out of my pocket, turn on the camera, make an image, and put it back in my pocket in a matter of seconds. I was even able to save the the RAW image files. Using my phone also made it easier to keep any expectations about my results in check. It was liberating.
When I sat down to process the images a week later, I was pleased with many of the results. Even though they were smaller than the images from my “real camera,” the quality was surprising, and I was even able to print this one as a nice 8x10 on semi-gloss paper.
The entire experience was a great exercise in trying out a new tool for photography — one that is on me nearly everywhere I go — and reinforced my belief that the best tool is the one that doesn’t get in the way of your experience.
Shroud | 27 August, 2021#
I made this one at the apex of a challenging hike with my wife during our honeymoon in Alaska. We stood at a natural overlook above this icefield and took in the sweeping views as misty clouds began to roll in. I snapped several images while we stood there, doing my best to soak up the stunning views and not putting too much thought into my photography.
When I was reviewing the images later on, I was struck by this one, unusual as that might seem. It’s not quite as literal as some of the others I made that day, and that the main subject is all but obscured. But there is something about it that resonated with me from the moment I saw it on my screen. I have felt a special attachment to this image ever since.
Somniferous | September, 2021#
In 2021, I began experimenting with analog photography. I started out using a Pentax K1000, but for me, this was a stepping stone to something that was even more exciting for me: shooting with a 35mm pinhole camera.
The pinhole camera provides an extremely simple mechanism for producing images that are a bit different from those you see from a typical digital camera. They are distorted and fuzzy. Images often contain spectral artifacts, especially when shooting into the sun. It is a fascinating way to explore light and its interactions with film.
The process of shooting with a pinhole camera is also a departure from that of shooting with a digital camera. There is no viewfinder and no aperture adjustment. Exposures are fully manual: you must open the shutter, leave it open for the duration of your exposure, and then close the shutter at the end of the exposure.
I shot several rolls of film over the course of a few months, but this quadruple exposure was one of the most interesting results. When I made this image, I was fully engaged in a playful creative process. I felt inspired by my natural surroundings and let the forest guide my experimentation.
I felt that this image was a great representation of this experience for me. It feels dreamy and bizarre. For me, it also elicits some warm nostalgia. There are enough cues here that provide hints about what this image is, but it departs from reality enough to let the imagination wander.
Untitled | 3 October 2021#
I made this image on a quiet, dewy morning at one of the locations near my home that I frequent for hiking. I’ve grown so accustomed to this place that on occasion I become dismissive of its subtle beauty. When I catch myself slipping into this mindset, it can be difficult to convince myself that another honest look will be worthwhile; not for the photography, necessarily, but for the experience and for the connection.
That morning, all I needed to do was slow down long enough to let nature work its magic on me. When I came across this scene, I was entranced by the swirling, chaotic grasses. I immediately envisioned it as a black and white image and started looking for the right composition.
This image now serves as a reminder for me of the value of slowing down and giving a familiar place another close look.
