Jackpot Photography

I drove 135 miles to three different doctors' appointments yesterday. I started out in snow flurries, but it turned out to be a fantastic day. The Finger Lakes don't always reward you with the benedictions of the amazing local weather, but it's something special when it happens. All day long I drove through the most beautiful light. The skies cleared and clouded again over and over, the clouds were ever-changing, the snows came and went, the wet roads reflected the almost heavenly brightness of the skies. I didn't have my camera with me and I had no time to stop to take pictures, but just looking was almost as good. I saw picture after picture. My brain would pick the spots where I imagined compositions would come together—over there—I'd park there and walk up to that spot. I like photographing more, but simply looking at the world with a photographer's eye is something I enjoy almost as much.

Good pictures for me don't come steadily. I'm not able to force the world to yield a treasure on demand just because I've got my gear with me and I'm out looking. But when the pictures are there, sometimes they seem to be all over the place. They fall out of the world and come tumbling at you. Based on long experience, I would guess that, had I been photographing yesterday, I would have gotten maybe five really good shots and another three or four pretty good ones, from twenty or thirty attempts. Of course you have to see them as pictures before you actually know. But yesterday was a jackpot day. Or would have been, if I'd had my camera along and time to stop and use it. A few of the pictures are still in my head.

I did manage to exhaust myself. I've been really sick these past two and a half months. Breathing has been hard. The least little exertion leaves me exhausted. I'm dizzy and unsure on my feet and sometimes get vertigo. All kinds of things go haywire when your tissues don't get enough oxygen. I'm paying for yesterday today: I've been bone tired all day today. But I heard maybe three more times yesterday, from three different people, that the pacemaker is probably going to help a lot, solve a lot of problems, make me feel a lot better. I have high hopes.

Don't forget I'll be off all through the middle of next week. It will be the fourth operation of my life, and possibly the most minor one. Butters goes into the kennel on Monday, I'll have the procedure Tuesday, home by Tuesday night or possibly Wednesday morning, then I'll be allowed to drive again by Friday. Who knows how I'll feel, but right now I'm not making any plans.

Ooh, I missed some good ones yesterday. But at least I got out. I started my day all worried that the snows were going to slow me down and make me late. It went the opposite way; the weather was a blessing.

Mike

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Featured Comments from:

James Bullard: "I am sending healing vibes your way Mike for whatever it's worth. It won't be worth as much as I wish it would be but....

"I know what you mean about days like that. Sometimes I go out walking or driving and see photos everywhere. Other days, nothing. It seems to be a combination of my state of mind and the day itself. If I can calm my mind and 'get into' my surroundings it will be a good day photographically. On other days the light and other circumstances overpower any resistance my mind has as the landscape says 'Look at this.' If the two don't come together, though, I find that the walk or drive is helpful in itself to quell the mental storm."

Henning: "I wish, as do all your readers, that you come home next week if not rejuvenated at least fully re-oxygenated. Hopefully the pacemaker will fix a lot of things, including giving you the energy to take your camera with you all the time. You know the drill: You may or may not have the time, the weather may or may not cooperate, but if you don't have your camera with you, you're unlikely to come home with a picture.

"Not long after I met my (future) wife over 55 years ago, she asked 'are you going to take that thing to bed with you?' No, and I didn't take it into the shower then either (cameras weren't shower-proofed in that era) but otherwise, pretty much a 'Yes.' In spite of that, there were still lots of pictures I missed. I've not regretted any picture I've taken, only the ones I missed."

Comments

[Bill Tyler]

Best of luck with your pacemaker and recovery.

[Albert Smith]

"I didn't have my camera with me and I had no time to stop to take pictures, but just looking was almost as good..."

In the mid-'80s, I did a 3000 mile drive from Los Angels to the east coast of Florida for a job transfer. I had a very specific time frame to arrive and a well plotted literary with my nightly stops selected. I also had my Nikon F3 with 35-105mm Nikkor mounted on the seat next to me, ready for action. I stopped every time that something looked good enough to shoot. Just south of Tucson looked like the Road Runner cartoon with giant boulders on rock pedestals and great light. I never got 5 miles without having to pull over and shoot.

I had to recalculate my journey because I lost a half a day on my first day and missed my scheduled hotel and was in danger of not arriving on time. My camera went into the trunk and all the scenery was photographed with my eyes only.

The only thing worse than not having a camera is having one and no time to use it.

[Jim]

I Phone? Not trying to be facetious but why not?

[It wasn't the camera but the time. With the weather uncertain I had to keep pressing on toward my goals. I arrived for my echocardiogram almost an hour early. But you never can tell when the weather's iffy. It took me a month to get the appointment. I couldn't risk losing it. --Mike]

[Nick]

Great reminder that for landscapes or anything where you aren't in control of the lighting, the light and ambient conditions are what makes things look interesting or pretty! If you went back to the exact same spots again today, maybe there would be no photos worth taking at all. Why sometimes when you go out with a camera, you just find nothing, and why sometimes it's worth going back to the same places repeatedly.

I have one special location which I visit during xmas holidays to see my parents every year, and every year it is different. I've been there in many different conditions, and still don't think I've really captured any one 'good' photo of it which shows the feeling I have of visiting that spot. One day...

[Richard Alan Fox]

I wish you a full and speedy recovery.

[Thomas Rink]

There are always treasures out there and waiting - it is on us to be receptive.

All the best - I'll keep my fingers crossed that the pacemaker meets your expectations. Get well soon!

[Chaii]

Best wishes for next week.

[Gary]

Godspeed, Michael. I too have been in those situations when you don't have a camera or the time to stop, so you just look. I still remember some of them.

[Bob Johnston]

Wishing you a speedy resolution to your health problems and a better 2024

[Kye Wood]

Hey there Mike. Sending out positive energy to you for your operation. It doesn't matter what your belief system is - I'm pretty sure it can't hurt :-)

Nice article today, too. Maybe aligns with an article about how to painlessly carry a camera with you at all times? I do it with a cloth cycling messenger carry satchel.

[Dogman]

Mike, ALWAYS carry a camera! That's the first rule of a photographer's life. But since there are no rules in photography, YMMV.

I take a camera of some type to my doctor's appointments. They kinda expect me to show up with one. I even took a Ricoh GR when I had my last colonoscopy (although not during the procedure itself--of course).

I often shoot from the car. My mobility is limited these days so I take any opportunity that is presented. Even when driving I will just point the camera and click away. Not always--not often--but I sometimes get some interesting photos from shooting blind.

I hope the pacemaker fixes your problems with fatigue, etc. I'll send out good vibes for the procedure and the recovery.

[Kenneth Tanaka]

Best wishes for a smooth installation, Mike. Think of it as kind of a firmware upgrade to improve your focus, battery life, and overall performance!

[Dave]

Sorry you didn't have time to take some photos, but at least you have them in your mind for future reference.

Will your pacemaker play "Ferry Cross the Mersey" on your birthday every year? :>)

[I don't think it knows the tune, but it will keep the beat. --Mike]

[Kaemu]

All the best for your operation. I hope it helps you get better.

[Tim McGowan]

Mike, Slainte Mhaith Duit.

[Terry Burnes]

I agree about the weather in upstate NY.

Our son went to college near you Mike and every time we visited we seemed to get the full gamut of weather. Most notable was his graduation day. The day started sunny and bright but by the time it was over we'd had rain, wind, sleet and snow, at the end all so violent that it basically drove everyone from the outdoor ceremony, each family getting up to leave as soon as their graduate crossed the stage. This was late May mind you. But despite all that it was almost always beautiful there. And exciting.

Good luck with the pacemaker Mike. Just think how much better you're going to feel in a few days. That's exciting too, sort of like emerging from volatile weather into calm, steady warm sunshine.

[Graeme Scott]

Good luck with the operation & hope you have a swift recovery. ( But don't rush back - I'm sure we'll all still be here ).

[Sean]

Good luck Mike

I do admire your willingness to get yourself promptly checked when you think something is amiss health-wise. It's something many married guys struggle with, let alone single fellas. I have lost people because of the pervasive I'll-brush-it-off response that males have to health scares. You’re setting a good example

[Dan Gorman]

Best of luck with the procedure, Mike. I spoke recently with a friend who had it done a couple of years ago. He said the procedure itself was much easier than he'd imagined, and over time it has turned out to be the single best thing he's ever done for his health.

Wishing you a smooth and easy procedure, and a much better 2024 :-)

Cheers!
Dan

[Thanks Dan, and everyone, for the comments. It's very encouraging to hear things like this, especially when I'm still dealing with the ill effects. --Mike]

[Moose]

Sorry, you know the rule, Mike. It didn't happen if there's no photo! \;~)>

The other rule is that Mike must come out of the pacemaker placement healthy, happy and full of new energy, stamina and resilience!

[Harry B Houchins]

Mike, take this as a recommendation or not. I'm 79 yrs old. I've been short of breath and tired for most of the past 5-6 years. No medics have had any advice that helped EXCEPT to drink lot's of water. I mean 6 glasses, at least. It's so much easier to become dehydrated as you age. When I get tired and breathless, I drink water by the glass and I feel, almost instantly, better. I keep a jug in the kitchen. It's a good day when it gets emptied.
Keep the faith and keep on keepin' on...

[Rob Griffin]

Mike, I am not much of a gambling man but I am betting that come next Wednesday morning you will feel like a new man! All the best to you as always but especially next Tuesday.

[Rod S.]

Best wishes, Mike. Take it easy and ... enjoy the journey. [smile]

[Jon Maxim]

Mike, Wishing you all the best on your procedure. Hope you wake up happy, healthy and invigorated!