Oh no . . . Be joyful!

I have no idea how many hours I’ve spent looking at awe-inspiring photographs of other photographers. Nor have I ever bothered to add up the number of articles and books on photography I’ve read. But I can tell you – with accuracy to the fourth decimal place – how many photographs I’ve taken while doing these things: zero.

To become a better nature photographer,
there is no substitute for being outdoors with your camera.

– John Shaw (world-renowned nature photographer,
author, workshop leader)

Implied in John’s axiom is the importance of actively engaging nature not just on sunny, 72-degree, low-humidity days only a step or two outside the safe, comfortable environment of one’s home or vehicle. While I have taken a few images under those conditions, a lot more of my photos have been shot in somewhat less ideal circumstances:

This is a well-known, popular location in the Tetons.
But Jean and I had it to ourselves on this occasion.
Most likely because it was raining.

Getting a photograph of Lathe Arch required me
to crawl up a narrow crevice between two granite boulders
to set up my tripod and camera.

The wind was so fierce on this summit
I had to hold onto my tripod to prevent it
and my camera from being blown over.

It was quite cold at this spectacular fall color spot,
making winter weather gear a necessity.
However, even with wool gloves on,
I temporarily lost the feeling in my fingertips.
I was forced to look down at my camera to make sure
my index finger was on the shutter release button before pressing down.

Getting this shot required getting up at 2:00 AM
and then driving ten miles to this location in the pitch-black dark.

Are you sitting down? Because the next sentence may surprise you. What I remember from these situations (and others like them) is not how difficult they were, but how fortunate I was to be at those spots and have those experiences.

I wish I could tell you that I regularly react in a similar fashion when I encounter difficulties in my Christian walk.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers,
whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of
your faith develops perseverance.

– James 1:2-3 (NIV)

I cannot yet claim the level of maturity that James speaks about. But my nature photography experiences can help me to look beyond hard times when they come, seeing them as relatively temporary, knowing that God can use them to strengthen my faith.