The photograph, what we all go through to make, that photograph. There are all those basic sacrifices of time and money, from buying the gear to getting ourselves to the right place at the right time. Then there is all the learning, all the time put in up until that moment when you go click. And yet after all of this, too often when it comes to putting the subject in the viewfinder, most stay within their comfort zone. To me, all of the above puts most way beyond that comfort zone but it changes when … well when what? When there is that possibility that what you see in the viewfinder might be something you have to share with others. When that sharing might put your heart out there, for all to see. That’s when the comfort zone is held onto with dear might!
Walking on the edge, I’ve done it all my life and for better or worse, I’m well known for it. You can take that anyway you’d like and this past week at the Grand Canyon, our group saw it in a very literally way. Pushing past my comfort zone when it comes to the photograph is a everyday MO for me, but it’s not for most. So when, after looking on the LCD of my D750 taken with the 20f1.8AFS some liked the photo and wanted to have it themselves. But to get that photo, they had to go to the edge, literally and figuratively. Now going to the Grand Canyon when you have a sever discomfort with heights might already be considered going past your comfort zone. Well for Richard, Emerson and Tony, just going to the Grand Canyon wasn’t enough. Though very uncomfortable with heights, they wanted to push through their comfort zone to get that photo. Did they get the photo? Perhaps a better question is … does it matter?
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These guys are my heroes! You see, when you go beyond your comfort zone, you often don’t get the photo, the first time. But something inside you goes click. And the more you push past that comfort zone, your percentage of success grows, the better your photography becomes. And that’s the whole goal … isn’t it? I don’t know first hand, but I have the feeling we never achieve a perfection in this pursuit. We do get close, mighty close but that only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. Right? But we keep on doing! My hats off to these guys, because with a smile on their face, they went to the edge and pushed themselves and their photography and even if they didn’t get the photo, they took that next big step. It’s one that moves you forward, forward of that comfort zone.