“The journey not the arrival matters.”
–T.S. Eliot
“Actually, the best gift you could have given her was a lifetime of adventures.”
–Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
Do you know where you’re going?
For a lot of us, the unknown may virtually be just around the corner. There are places in our own city or town we may stumble upon during an afternoon stroll. But sometimes, we don’t allow ourselves to carve out those minutes from our busy days. It seems our everyday life gets in the way of our “living.”
However, when we’ve planned well and scheduled in the vacation, there are those feelings of excitement and anticipation when packing the bags. There’s something satisfying about traveling for pleasure.
Freed from the rigors of everyday life, it feels good to take a deep breath, sit back, and revel in the adventure. Like seafarers of centuries past, you lift the anchor and hoist the sails, unaware of what direction the wind might take you or what people or places you might discover on your journey.
Always be ready to capture the moment.
Of course, like most photographers, I always have my camera handy in case something interesting presents itself. Occasionally, I’m simply capturing images out of the car window as they whiz by. Other times, I’m much more intentional. Setting up the perfect photo can take time but can yield amazing results. Either way, it’s a moment frozen in time that I can share and enjoy for years to come.
Are you ready for a road trip?
With the Great White North (that’s Canada, eh?) our intended destination, my photo friend suggested a stop in Palouse, Washington, to photograph the farmlands on our way home. I had seen beautiful images of the hills of Palouse before and jumped at the chance to add my name to the list of photographers who have photographically captured this magical place.
The coolest place you don’t know.
In case you’re unfamiliar with this little gem of a locale, the picturesque, rolling hills of Palouse are a sightseer’s and photographer’s dream. Referred to as an agricultural wonderland and one of the seven wonders of Washington State, Palouse is blanketed in acre upon acre of wheat, barley, lentils and chickpeas; the richest crop in the nation.
Due to a geological tweak that produced super-soil in this pastoral “Eden,” the wheat alone can yield up to 100 bushels an acre. This is nearly twice the national average, and for Washington State is a billion-dollar industry. You can bet your lentils that’s a lot of bread – pun so intended.
Are you sure it’s morning?
After spending the night in Spokane, we were determined to reach Steptoe Butte by sunrise. Wanting to get an early start, we crawled out of bed at 4:30 a.m., before the roosters even considered crowing. The undulating hills bathed in the early morning shadows were breathtaking and I was determined to capture the sights in all their natural glory.
Get your camera ready.
We reached Palouse just before the sun painted the sky a rosy hue. This was the moment I was waiting for. I was soon snapping away like a tourist in Rome. The window of opportunity for the kind of images I wanted was small, and I wanted to capture as much as I could. Now I could relax and compose not only myself, but my images.
Every picture has a story.
The pictures I’ve included are just a few of the dozens I took. The beauty of this place still gives me chills when I look at the images. I can now check this off my bucket list and return visually any time I want.
Capture the present before it’s past.
During this road trip I also had a lot of time for pondering, and in my musings thought life has a way of hitting warp speed. Memories flooded back to when the kids were born. From infants to toddlers, walking and then talking, and then suddenly they’re off to college before we even realized it.
As a person who essentially freezes time for my clients, I realized that family photos were the best way to relive special moments, or simply capture the joys of everyday life.
Oh, I hear the groans from your children thinking they have to sit still, pose, and paste on a cheesy smile for another photograph. Though your children may not appreciate it now, as they grow older, they’ll cherish the small slices of their lives you saved. Once they start having their own children, they’ll look back with joy and happily keep the family tree growing, continuing to share their memories for years to come.
Gratitude is an attitude and thankfulness a virtue.
So, to tie in my summer memories of our road trip into this nostalgic November, I can’t help but look back at this year with an attitude of gratitude. I have a family that I love, my health, a business I’m passionate about.
I’m thankful for all the opportunities that have come my way this year, the health of my children and grandchildren, and for the ability to look forward to next year with hope and excitement.
I’m sure there are things you are thankful for as well. If it’s family, call me. We’ll schedule time to create images which will be a part of your memories for years. You’ll be grateful you did!
Here’s wishing you a November to Remember.
I am a Southern California based Portrait, Commercial and Fine Art Photographer who sees the world a bit differently.
You can view more of my work here > Donna Edman Photography.
If you’d like to book a session, I’d be honored > Contact Me.
Together, we can Capture YOUR Life, One Image at a Time!
Donna Edman Photography 