New Year's Day Epiphany

Believe me when I say it struck me over the head like a delightful shock of electricity through the whole body. Yesterday I decided on a spur of the moment to head to Spring Mills State Park, unfortunately it was 2 hour from my home and they were an hour ahead of us, I knew by the time I was 45 minutes away they'd be closed and I wasn't going to make it. Then I saw the sign to Patoka Lake and figured I'd never been to the largest lake in Indiana, so I'd go, plus I didn't want the whole drive to be a total waste. I got there and started taking shots working on the size of the lake and clouds, the side I was on was so big that the water was going crazy due to the wind (I was freezing). After 30 minutes or so I got into my jeep and headed in the direction of going home when a voice in my head told me to turn the other way and just see what happens. I found rocky boat ramp and the water there was almost smooth as glass and the clouds were just amazing. I started taking shots and couldn't stop myself, that's when it hit me, I finally felt it or last least I think I finally understood what gets Art Wolfe so giddy when out on an assignment or out there in nature, and so many others of course. I had to force myself back into my jeep, I didn't want to leave at all. It was 20 degrees and the sun was going down fast, but for the first time in my life and since picking up a camera, I didn't feel like I had wasted a 2 hour drive, I didn't regret what happened and how my hour of shooting went (which I have ), I was giddy and called my husband to ramble on for 10 minutes about how happy I was. I left the house with plans of taking shots of old Spring Mills buildings and working with black and white, instead I got home with shots that I can honestly say I am proud of and can't wait to go back to Patoka Lake, I might even stay on into the night just to get some shot of the moon over the lake (I might have to plan that one) Anyways, I thought I'd share my feelings with other fellow photographers! Thank you

another one of my shots

Thank you for sharing your experience. I hope we all have had or will have moments like yours.

Andrea,

So glad you went to Patoka Lake instead of just going home, the images are very peaceful feeling and the sky is lovely.

One of my philosophies is that some thing wonderful is just around the curve in the road, and I usually find it. I get called a "Pollyanna" because of that but it works for me. And more often than not, I find some thing wonderful, amazing or just delightful to see.

I totally agree, hopefully I can wake up around 5a.m. to get there again tomorrow morning to catch some sunrise photos. I won't be too unhappy if it doesn't happen, but I am plannng that little trip.

Glad you had such a wonderful experience from your initial "failed" trip. It is exactly what you described which makes me love getting out and taking pictures, you truly never know what you are going to find. Just the other day I thought I wasn't going to get anything good when I missed my turn and had to take an alternative route and had a great experience with an American Kestrel (only the 3rd time I'd ever seen one!). As long as you keep an open mind and an open shutter, you'll never be disappointed.

- Luke

Well I was able to get up at 4:30a.m. this morning and WAS NOT dissappointed at all, completely thrilled with my shots and prepared for single digit temperatures! I got there pretty early and had to wait about ten or fifteen minutes before the sky and sun started its magic, there weren't very many clouds, just those wispy ones but it was gorgeous! I can't wait to put some of my photos up here! I might get one up right now just to show a little example of what I got to see okay I hope it worked

Andrea this is a great testament to the power of perseverance and following that little voice in your head instead of just packing it up and going home. These three images are beautiful.