WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS….

by Noella Ballenger

 

 

Water and the play of light on water are a couple of my lifetime themes. I loved the ocean swells and the alternating bands of light and shadow.  It was a glorious sunset.

I have the glorious occasion to travel to South America for the first time this year. My eyes and the eye of my camera will join to capture images of lands that are new to me (Chile, Argentina and Brazil), and I know the challenges will be thrilling and artistically stimulating.  Looking forward to adventures in these new and different places, I began to think about how a photographer can mentally prepare for travel to unfamiliar locations.

 

Most of the physical logistics are easy.  The old rule is to take twice the film, half the clothes, and three times the money you think you’ll need.  By now, most of us have a reasonably good method of packing and protecting our camera gear. Hopefully, we won’t take more gear than we need and can carry comfortably.  (It always seems that whatever lens I assumed I wouldn't want on a trip, that will be the one I really need--and don’t have.)

 

Mental preparation is a different story. When you take a trip, you’ve often been attracted to the destination because of images you’ve seen or stories you’ve heard.  You set off with preconceived ideas of the kinds of photos you’ve admired and want to reproduce. This is human.  For example, who doesn't want to go to Africa and come home with the ultimate cheetah or lion shot? But what happens when you go and don't find what you expect to find? Does it ruin the trip, or can you make lemonade from the lemons you were handed? Can you turn your lemons into something even better than what you originally planned?  We need to do homework before we leave in order to be fully prepared.

 

Again, water rippling slowly in this pond with lots of reeds caught my attention.  At first I tried to put too much into the image and lost the feeling I wanted to capture.  Finally, my eye settled on the most important part of the image … the squiggles of reflection of the reeds on the water.

An open mind is essential for a productive trip.  I can remember standing on a platform near Alaska's Brooks Falls. I had seen the beautiful "icon" bear shot by Thomas Mangelsen of a salmon just entering a huge grizzly's mouth, and I wanted that image, too. I had lots of company, because every time a salmon jumped anywhere near the bear standing at the edge of the falls, the sounds of the motor drives clicking away around me almost drowned out the sounds of the falls!  There’s nothing wrong with trying for the ultimate icon shot, but don't forget to look around for other images, too.  There can be really good ones just waiting to be noticed.

 

Flexibility is another essential for a travel photographer. We must be ready for our best laid plans to go out the window. I have seldom been on a trip during which something hasn't happened to change my plans for me. And as plans change, we need to adapt.  A change of plans isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes the second choices turn out to be wonderful.  We need to keep that open mind.

 

Energy is vital for anyone who’s traveling, as the experience is frequently exhausting. Being well-rested means planning ahead so you don't start a trip tired.  It also means taking rest breaks along the way. On one of my scouting trips on the Oregon coast with my friend and guide, we had been pushing pretty hard checking out motels and restaurants. We enjoyed dinner and then decided to walk on the beach, leaving our camera gear in the car. It was apparent that I was both frustrated and frazzled, so as we walked, my friend introduced me to the fine art of agate hunting. (Agates are tiny rocks that are translucent when you hold them up to the light.)  There I sat on the beach looking for an illusive agate, while the sun displayed a glorious sunset. I re-charged myself as my fingers combed through thousands of small pebbles. When the sky finally darkened and we left the beach, I had a pocketful of little rocks and a whole new perspective. I hadn’t caught a single photo of that glorious sunset, but I was brimming with ideas and energy once again. Take time to replenish yourself.  While you may occasionally miss a glorious sunset, you’ll be a better photographer for the break.

 

Early dawn in Canada.  It was cold and overcast. I wondered why I was wandering around when I could be snuggled back in bed.  What in the world was there worth shooting?  This is when I pull up a theme and begin working on it.  I found these leaves floating slowly and with the overcast and dull light, you could really see that the water was elastic around the edges.  I got busy, the time flew and it was one very creative morning shoot.

Being willing to experience is another essential trait to have when you’re on a photographic adventure. This ability ties into having an open mind, a high energy level, and flexibility. For example, I was in Prague with my sister, and we were staying in a small hotel on the outskirts of town. The subway was right around the corner, and she insisted we take it.  Here in California, we have a traditional love of automobiles.  However, to keep peace in the family, I agreed, in spite of the fact that subways are definitely not "my thing."  But I had my camera in hand, and the time we spent in Prague turned out to be really fun.  A totally different kind of photographic experience, different lighting conditions, different people, and being willing to experience it all as it happened became a chance for me to grow as a person and an artist.

 

Try stepping out of your normal mode of seeing. There’s nothing like refreshing yourself by thinking about your photography in new ways, by experimenting. Sometimes you just have to tear loose. “What if I tried it shooting this way--or that--or made my image into something entirely new and unlike anything I’ve ever done before?” This "what-if" question should be a perpetual chant in your mind. Make an image the way you normally would, then ask yourself the "what if" question. 

 

I like having life-long themes to work on--weeds and water being two of my favorites. I can find weeds and water almost any place I travel. This spring, I’ve made a list of new themes to try.  I know they’ll push me into seeing my surroundings in a different way.  Some of my new themes consist of vibrant colors, shapes (and this includes overlapping shapes and abstract shapes), and movement.  I want to think more about how to bring animation into my still images, so movement will be a major theme.  I’m preparing mentally for the trips I have scheduled, and I hope that if you travel with your camera this summer, you’ll do the same.

 

More Photos>>>>>

 

Noella Ballenger leads photographic workshop/tours to special locations in the West. Visit her site in Apogee Photo Magazine at www.noellaballenger.com or send her an e-mail at Noella1B@aol.com   Write to her at P.O. Box 457, La Canada, CA 91012, call: (818) 954-0933 or fax: (818) 954-0910 for more information on her workshop/tours.

 

NOTE:   Noella will be traveling in March 2005.  Please be patient if her response is delayed until her return.