Slow Down – Capturing A Great Photograph is Good For The Soul

DIY Photography

Share This Post!

Life is busy. We’re all so caught up running around from one task to the next with no time in between that it’s easy to forget that amazing moments can’t be scheduled.

In this article I wanted to share a few photos that recently taught me to remember to slow down and how great it feels to photograph something special.

The story goes like this:

My family and I were up at our family cottage for the weekend and a couple days of skiing nearby. We were driving between the cottage and the ski hill – behind schedule and late to check into our hotel room (the kids were really anxious to go for a swim in the outdoor pool).

The cottage only has snowmobile access in the winter – so it takes a bit of effort to get in and out. It was also extremely cold and snowy, making everyone a little cranky with bad conditions for driving.

By the time we were in the car and on the road, warmed up and on our way – the last thing any of us wanted to do was stop.

Which was when we passed a farm field with a woodlot in the background with a little stream, perfect late afternoon winter light and an ideal dusting of snow.

I’m not a big landscape guy, but I know an perfect photo opportunity when I see one.

The problem was, the weather was sketchy, we were in a hurry to get where we were going and I knew I was going to suffer the wrath of the pre-teens if I stopped.

So I kept driving…for another few kilometers at least…

My camera was in the back – just sitting there, ready to go…

I couldn’t take it – the scene was just too perfect to pass by – so “sorry kids, I’ve got to turn around to take a picture!”

Which was greeted by “Uuuuggggggggggg do we haaaaaveeee tooooooo?”

Well, yes actually – I do have to!

I turned the car around, drove back, pulled off to the side of the road and snapped a half dozen frames. In total it took maybe five minutes.

They’re not the best landscape photos I’ve ever captured. It’s not the most amazing winter scene I’ve ever photographed.

But it made me so happy to slow down and create a few great photographs that I would have otherwise missed.

Closeup view of red sumac flower fruit topped with icy snow in winter forest

Closeup view of red sumac flower fruit topped with icy snow in winter forest

Snow and ice cover winter landscape at edge of tall trees forest

Snow and ice cover winter landscape at edge of tall trees forest

Rustic wire fence at boundary of snowy stream and winter forest

Rustic wire fence at boundary of snowy stream and winter forest

Rustic wire fence at boundary of snowy stream and winter forest

Rustic wire fence at boundary of snowy stream and winter forest

Wide angle view wire fence at edge of winter forest under stormy cloudy sky

Wide angle view wire fence at edge of winter forest under stormy cloudy sky

Images from this session are available for royalty free licensing at Stocksy United. 

The post Slow Down – Capturing A Great Photograph is Good For The Soul appeared first on DIY Photography.

DIYphotography.net is one of the world’s most popular photography blogs with over 1,500,000 monthly views.

JP Danko’s weekly column is published every Thursday.

LATEST BLOG POSTS & CURRENT WORK

CONTACT US

blurMEDIA is located near Toronto, Canada. Please use the contact form to get in touch. For immediate service please text message the number below.

Toronto, Canada

905 818 5711

jpdanko@blurMEDIAphotography.com

Fill out this field
Fill out this field
Fill out this field
Just to prove you are a human, please solve the equation: 24 + 12 = ?
Enter the equation result to proceed
JP_Danko_blurMEDIA_Photography

JP Danko

Owner

JP Danko is an active lifestyle photographer based in Toronto, Canada. JP can change a lens mid-rappel, swap a memory card while treading water, or use a camel as a light stand.

Flickr
Instagram
500px

Recent Posts

JP Danko on Instagram

Menu