The Object or The Light

 The past couple of months I've taken somewhat of a break from photography only venturing out on short walk arounds taking simple snapshots of this or that. Basically photographing objects without thinking too much about what or how I approached the moment. Yesterday I took an hour or two and made a simple walk around outback eventually heading over to a pond where I knew dragonflies would most likely be swarming...and they were. Dragonflies are interesting subjects and can be difficult to photograph. They do have one tendency; they tend to return to the same resting spot time after time often providing you with good opportunities to capture their unique qualities. The trick is to find them in good light for that is when an ordinary object like a dragonfly can become an extraordinary subject. It's all about the light.

I've preached this concept for many years; It is less about the object and more about the light when it comes to capturing a good photograph. Most times when I am out and about, the light is what I seek first, and when I find it, I begin to look for a subject that will be enhanced because of the light. Most times it is the subtle situations that generate the boldest of opportunities. And, sometimes those bold opportunities only last for a fleeting few seconds before they dry up.

Light can be there and gone before you even get your camera focused. Training your eye to identify extraordinary light comes with practice and trial and error. I over the years have missed more shots than i have ever captured simply because I was too slow to react. The fleeting nature of quality light often produces a lot of frustrations in a nature photographer. Too many times I second guess myself right out of an opportunity. However, on those rare occasions when I guess right, seeing the moment, framing it, and capturing it, well...you just know it when it happens. 

The object does possess a certain importance of course; you have to have something to photograph. But it is light that truly turns the ordinary into the extraordinary. Even a simple dragonfly can capture light in extraordinary ways. Having the patience to find it sometimes is what causes the hit or miss opportunity.