A few weeks ago, I wrote about photographers who were doing the same thing year after year, and me thinking that they were not as interesting, as those who moved on, tried different things, and were willing to experiment.
To some extent, I take that back. There are photographers who are interesting, and have been, and will remain interesting, no matter what they do – mainly because they are very good at a particular genre. I would however, bet my last dollar, that at some point they have tried different things, and that they have in some areas failed (See my fear of failure post).
I realised only the other day, that I’m pretty guilty of this myself. Now, I’m always happy to have a go at something new, something different – and at least try, even if I do fail at it. But, yesterday, I drove for just under 3 hours to get to Wollaton Hall, where there were Red Deer, in the hopes of seeing some of the rut. I’ve done this for the last 6 years (not the long drive, just the photos), and I’ve had some pretty good images. What dawned on me yesterday, was that I was trying to do the same things I was doing before I moved home into deepest Lincolnshire.
Where I lived before, for example – deer parks were pretty easy to get to. Lyme Park was 20 minutes away, and then there was Tatton, and Dunham Massey – all National Trust, but then I was a member, and all three were accessible for early morning, and evening shoots. Here, now, Bradgate Park, and Wollaton Hall are probably two of the few places with a Red Deer Herd, and I made two mistakes yesterday.
- I left home too late, and
- I left home far too late
Nearly 3 hours there, three hours on site, and same back. Exhausted? Yes, Pictures? Yes – Good Pictures? – Weeeelllll…. maybe some pretty OK ones.
Bradgate Park Leicester is 84 miles and 2 hours. I went there last year, and yes, it was better access, time and more deer activity.
I did wonder as I crawled into bed last night whether I shouldn’t reconsider what I was photographing on a weekly basis. I’ve not adapted my photographic behaviour to my new location – I’m still doing some things I was doing before, and maybe, not as well – just because of the distances involved.
I’ve learned the hard way – I need to adapt to what I have now, and move on, accept the changes, and next week, I’m back in the car, and looking for Stags…….
