Disappointments of Photography

I wear a wristband that reads “Finish Strong”, its black with white indented lettering. Every morning I read that wristband. The first word is the most important to me: “Finish”. Not “try” or “Give it a go” but finish. As long as I finish that’s all I can give, right? NO! This wristband kicks it up a notch by demanding, yes demanding, that I not only finish but that I finish “Strong”. There is no “good job” phrases, pats on the back, or encouragements, only “Strong”. Dictionary.com defines strong as both mentally and physically competent, to have power, and force. Finish means to overcome completely. So how does a rubber wristband with two subtle yet powerful words have to do with photography? Example: Today I decided to go to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary to photograph wildlife. Around 4:30pm I left my house and didn’t arrive home until 8:00pm. Three and a half hours I spent driving, walking, paying $10, and searching for any animal I could find out in the beautiful mosquito infested swamps of Corkscrew Sanctuary. In all I found NO animals, a stray Cardinal would appear periodically but by the time my hand found the shutter button it was gone. Infuriating is a word that comes to mind when I recall the feelings I was experiencing. I don’t view wasting time as simply “time” but life, my time is my life. Walking across the boardwalks in the swamp my wristband screams out “FINISH! Get your photos.” How? Where? There is nothing to photograph. Giving up hope I left the Sanctuary with my head hung low. Not only was I disappointed but I didn’t finish what I set out to complete, to overcome. And on top of that I wasted my time and my life. Complete failure. I got in my truck and headed out of the parking lot. In a grassy area to my right is a rabbit. Yep, in a parking lot is a creature that I spent hours searching for and nearly gave up all hope of being able to “Finish” what I had set out for. But it’s just a white fluffy tailed rabbit?! I’m not going to make the cover of National Geographic with its photo; it might not even turn out that great. BUT my mood changed; it gave me hope. I got my photo. I finished!! And it turned out great; I finished strong.

Photography is as rewarding as it is disappointing. The perfect scene can be ruined by one small imperfection, or everything can fall into place and perfection can be captured. Today reminded me not to give up hope. That some days will be harder than others and there will be floods and there will be droughts. As long as in the end I Finish Strong then I (and all of us) have accomplished something worthy of being proud of.