Patience and Photography

When your average viewer looks at a great photo, the first instinct is usually to credit the camera.  That, of course, is rather silly given that most of the photos you see in a museum were taken with cameras so primitive you’d be more likely to throw them out than use them.  The slightly more sophisticated viewer is likely to look at other factors, such as the photographer’s skill in composition and perhaps photo editing.  While these factors no doubt place some distance between a professional and the casual snap-shot taker, perhaps the greatest factor separating the average tourist snapping photos off in a park and Ansel Adams is something rarely noted: patience.

This photo is dedicated to a wonderful reader who lamented that my lake photos were too sad. I hope this brings a smile!

Ansel Adams didn’t just take a weekend trip to Yosemite

Winter Calm

I mentioned change in my last post and a number of readers have asked if that meant my travels were at an end.  The good news (at least I hope it’s good) is that no, I’m not finished traveling.  Even so, I was serious when I said change was coming…

In the last scene of Pulp Fiction Jules, played by Samuel Jackson, tells Vincent that he’s had enough of being a gangster and wants to go wander the Earth and see the world.  Vincent replies that there’s a word for that already: “It’s called being  bum.”  While I hate to think of myself in those terms, the truth is that I have relied heavily on the generosity of my friends and strangers these last few years.

The first fruit of my winter studies.

While I’ve gained more than I know how to put into words from the experience, I’ve decided it’s time to see if I can’t become a bit more self-reliant.  To that end I’ve taken a little pause from the more extreme world wandering and settled into the hills of upstate New York for the winter.  While the location could hardly be more relaxing, I’m not here for a vacation (after all what could I take a vacation from?) but rather to focus on my photography, writing and the other humble means by which I hope to establish a sustainable living.

While all this may mean a few less stories of my risking my life for a spectacular picture over the next few months, it certainly won’t mean a shortage of photos to share.  I’ve gathered quite the collection over the last four years and it’s essentially a senseless jumble which I’ve slowly begun to wade through.  I’m also taking this time to work on some of the more technical aspects of my art and I hope I’ll have some nice results to share soon.  Finally the local scenery is none to shabby either so I promise to do my best to keep everyone satisfied with the best images I can capture.

I don’t have to go far to find amazing scenery.

Thank you all again for the years of support.  For those of you interested in helping me turn this journey into a career, it’s as easy as sharing my Etsy page with someone who might be interested or purchasing a photo yourself.  If budget is a concern you can always help by following my blog, or forwarding it to someone else who might enjoy it.  An Out of the Way Place is nearing its 1,000th follower and with your help it could happen any day now!

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant:

if we did not sometimes taste of adversity,

prosperity would not be so welcome.”

Anne Bradstreet

Looking Back

Four years ago I began to plan for a journey, I thought it would last a month, but as 2013 draws to a close I can now look back at a four year odyssey that has been the greatest adventure of my life.  Of course, as with most things in life, this journey will never really be over.  Yet even so, a time of great change is approaching in my life and before I begin to share with you what’s on the horizon, I’d like to take this New Year’s to look back not only at 2013 but all the years of An Out of a the Way Place, years that we’ve all shared and that would never have been possible without you.  So sit back and enjoy a look at the last four years.  It’s been a crazy trip!

The night that started it all

Unlike in the movies, real turning points

Grand Opening!

It’s been a long time coming, but at last I have opened up an online shop to sell my photos!  Check it out: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnOutOfTheWayPlace

The banner for my new shop!

I’ve always sold my photography to anyone who would ask, but I know modern shopping is all about convenience and I hope having an Etsy shop will encourage you all to buy your favorite photo!

As listing items for sale costs money, I’ve decided to start my shop off small.  I’ve always received positive feedback on my mountain photos so for the initial offering I’ve put up eight of my favorite images of mountains captured from around the globe.  That said if there’s an image you love and want to buy just drop me a note and I can set up a custom Etsy listing or sell to you directly.

One of the eight photos I chose for my grand opening!

That said go and shop!  I’ve opened just in time for Christmas and hope you’ll all find an image you love.  Thanks again for all the support over the years.  This shop is just one of several improvements that you should see over the next few months so keep an eye out!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnOutOfTheWayPlace

Giving Thanks

Every Thanksgiving, in addition to taking stock and feeling a general gratefulness for my life, I try to focus on one particular aspect of my life to be thankful for.  This isn’t always an easy choice to make, because the truth is I live a life full of blessings, even so this year, I feel I have a clear choice.

It was a peaceful walk, but disaster wan’t far away.

A little over a year ago I completed the Tour du Mt. Blanc (here’s the old post) with a close friend of mine.  Midway through the trip