I always consider the quality of light, composition, and subject matter as key elements in the making of a fine photograph. Lately I have begun to consider another element, in addition to the others, that I believe would make any photograph stand out. That element is the ephemeral moment. How would you define an ephemeral moment? My definition is they are fleeting moments of time difficult to capture in a photograph. Are they as elusive as I think they are? Or are there ways to anticipate them and be ready for them? I relate them to the quality of light which can be very brief at times but I do not think they are limited only to that.
What are your thoughts on this? Knowing more about ephemeral moments would improve my photography.
Well, the very definition of ephemeral is something fleeting or short lived. I think "the" ephemeral moment is very subjective. You could say a once in a lifetime sunset could be one - or you could also argue that ephemeral moments happen each and every day, depending on the subject and how you look at it.
I like to think of it in the latter sense. I believe there is always something worth photographing, and that something will always have a moment when the time is right to press the shutter. Last night I was walking the beach before sunset and had imagined a shot of the sun nested between two offshore rocks. As the evening went on, the time came when in fact the sun did line up between the rocks right at sunset, and I made the photo. I had my ephemeral moment for the day. It wasn't the most beautiful thing I've ever seen - but nice enough - and hands down the best shot of the day.
I know that might not really be answering your question, but there is a lot of gray area there. I guess "the ephemeral moment" is whatever you decide it should be. I'll be curious to see what others say about this.
Thank you, Aaron. Ephemeral moments can be anticipated and even expected. But there are times when they are just the opposite. Either way you have to be ready for them. I imagine shooting a lot of the same composition as the light keeps changing and picking your favorite ones and deleting the others later would work. What if you had only one shot? Do you know when to take the shot? How do you know it would not be better if you waited just a bit longer? Personally I believe it is all in the anticipation and the hope that it will happen when the moment arrives. Lightning is a good example.
Yes, Will, Ephemeral moments are a key ingredient in making a truly special image. You can stack the odds of catching one in your favor if you are properly tuned into your surroundings, open to a convergence of moments, the ordinary and the extra-ordinary. Remember the saying, "chance favors the prepared", and how that ties into the concept of pre-visualization.
I think one of the keys in catching the ephemeral moment is to think like a photo-journalist, where the prime goal is to catch that single moment of peak action that in itself defines the story of what your photo is about. As stated, in landscape and nature, catching a bolt of lightning is a prime example, because it defines itself as that brief, yet peak moment of action.
Each has its own Special "ordinary" be it a sunset, or an Ice Halo, or a scenic shot of El Capitan. Yet each also has an added element of "Extra-Ordinary" that combines that captures, defines, and creates its own special unique, brief, ephemeral moment.
I think Gary is on the right track. Being "tuned in" is a good way to describe it. Sometimes when everything is just clicking effortlessly and the light is really good I can get so focused on the task of photographing the subject that it is almost like a heightened sense of awareness of my surroundings. It may feel like I'm getting a bunch of great shots, and then - wham! - you line up a composition and you just know it is the one. It is the fine tuning and working the subject - I call it "stalking the composition" - that usually gets me what I would call "the" shot.
You can make yourself ready for that moment, but you can't make the moment happen. The extent which you can plan depends on the subject to a large extent. You can plan a landscape shot a lot more than an Avian, for example.
Posted by David Taylor on April 6, 2009 at 12:27 AM
The old phrase, "The harder I work, the luckier I become" comes to mind. Jim, I would add a slight argument to your statement - just my 2 cents. It seems that the big name wildlife (be it lions, tigers, bears, or Eagles oh my) do in fact plan many of their shots. Their experience has taught them to position themselves a certain way at a certain time of day with a certain lens and settings to achieve an effect. That's a pretty good plan & many have achieved amazing results - again, the harder you work, the luckier you get.
I think 'ephemeral moments' can be anticipated, and im getting to the point where i think they can be made. I have limited time to shoot, so i use my knowlege of the weather (im a forecaster) to try to optimize my light and atmospheric conditions. For example, I would rather lose a couple hours sleep if need be to catch what i consider a worthwhile chance at a great sunrise or clearing storm, than sit around for days on my time off waiting for something to happen. But I think you are really talking about images that are powerful, that evoke strong emotions, which often is true for those fleeting moments of time but they don't have to be necessarily constrained by time. I think with the proper preparation and deep understanding of a subject, you can find those fleeting moments constantly, they are all around you waiting to be captured. Im starting to feel that the more i visit the nearby Great Sand Dunes; becuase im starting to develop a familiarity with the place, more and more often I'm finding that i recognize those moments and scenes immediately, they don't pass me by the way they did when i first visitied the place. And that's a strong draw, becuase little by little i start to gain confidence that those ephemeral moments will greet me each time i arrive, i wont have to wait for them to show up.
My initial thought was "All moments are ephemeral unless you turn on the time machine."
We can predict anything. It's predicting accurately that is difficult.
It's an over used word, but maybe magic is more to the point. Or perhaps decisive (ala Cartier-Bresson).
Decisive nature moments are recorded by photographers that know their subject very well (and spend a lot of time with their subjects), that know their equipment very well (and spend a lot of time with it). A lot of patience and luck are also helpful.
Some very interesting and thought provoking replies here. Thank you.
Knowledge of the subject is essential. Considering avian photography I have a theory that I want to test. Some time ago I saw a pileated woodpecker arrive at its nest high up in a tree. Before alighting on the tree where the nest was it first landed on a nearby tree and called out. We went there the next day at the same time and it landed precisely on the same branch. Robins are another example. A robin had been singing on the top of the same spruce tree every day last spring. Always at the same time. Do all birds come back to the same perch at a predicted time? Could you therefore predict when and where a bird will be? Avian photography is, to my thinking, ephemeral by nature. Birds rarely sit still for long. They are constantly flitting and darting about. Knowing if they return at the same time to the same branch could open up great possibilities for avian photographers. Of course there is also the backyard setup. And as noted by Dave Taylor it is similar with other wildlife. Moose, deer and elk have trails that they follow. Deer can live out their entire lives in a 2 kilometer radius. So I am told.
Regarding landscape images, knowing the weather forecast for the region is very helpful. (Thanks Stan) I got a few great shots of a thunderstorm that way. Knowing when and where the sun comes up and sets and knowing what your composition will be by scouting the area ahead of time is also good preparation. Perhaps the weather forecast can even predict when the light beams of the sun descend from the clouds. One of my goals is to catch those beams on a rolling pastoral landscape.
Discussion
9 repliesWhat are your thoughts on this? Knowing more about ephemeral moments would improve my photography.
Thank you for your replies.
Will
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
I like to think of it in the latter sense. I believe there is always something worth photographing, and that something will always have a moment when the time is right to press the shutter. Last night I was walking the beach before sunset and had imagined a shot of the sun nested between two offshore rocks. As the evening went on, the time came when in fact the sun did line up between the rocks right at sunset, and I made the photo. I had my ephemeral moment for the day. It wasn't the most beautiful thing I've ever seen - but nice enough - and hands down the best shot of the day.
I know that might not really be answering your question, but there is a lot of gray area there. I guess "the ephemeral moment" is whatever you decide it should be. I'll be curious to see what others say about this.
Will
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
I think one of the keys in catching the ephemeral moment is to think like a photo-journalist, where the prime goal is to catch that single moment of peak action that in itself defines the story of what your photo is about. As stated, in landscape and nature, catching a bolt of lightning is a prime example, because it defines itself as that brief, yet peak moment of action.
A couple examples from my own portfolio:
Bird flying past El Capitan
Birds flying in an Ice Halo
Wave at sunset
Kayaker watching the sunset
Each has its own Special "ordinary" be it a sunset, or an Ice Halo, or a scenic shot of El Capitan. Yet each also has an added element of "Extra-Ordinary" that combines that captures, defines, and creates its own special unique, brief, ephemeral moment.
At least that's how I "see" it.
Cheers,
Here is one of mine:
Big Wave Action
We can predict anything. It's predicting accurately that is difficult.
It's an over used word, but maybe magic is more to the point. Or perhaps decisive (ala Cartier-Bresson).
Decisive nature moments are recorded by photographers that know their subject very well (and spend a lot of time with their subjects), that know their equipment very well (and spend a lot of time with it). A lot of patience and luck are also helpful.
Pete D.
Knowledge of the subject is essential. Considering avian photography I have a theory that I want to test. Some time ago I saw a pileated woodpecker arrive at its nest high up in a tree. Before alighting on the tree where the nest was it first landed on a nearby tree and called out. We went there the next day at the same time and it landed precisely on the same branch. Robins are another example. A robin had been singing on the top of the same spruce tree every day last spring. Always at the same time. Do all birds come back to the same perch at a predicted time? Could you therefore predict when and where a bird will be? Avian photography is, to my thinking, ephemeral by nature. Birds rarely sit still for long. They are constantly flitting and darting about. Knowing if they return at the same time to the same branch could open up great possibilities for avian photographers. Of course there is also the backyard setup. And as noted by Dave Taylor it is similar with other wildlife. Moose, deer and elk have trails that they follow. Deer can live out their entire lives in a 2 kilometer radius. So I am told.
Regarding landscape images, knowing the weather forecast for the region is very helpful. (Thanks Stan) I got a few great shots of a thunderstorm that way. Knowing when and where the sun comes up and sets and knowing what your composition will be by scouting the area ahead of time is also good preparation. Perhaps the weather forecast can even predict when the light beams of the sun descend from the clouds. One of my goals is to catch those beams on a rolling pastoral landscape.
Will
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada