By: LMH
Photography always fascinated me since childhood. Photos capture a fleeting moment and engrain a memory into permanence. When I was younger, I was blessed with great physical balance while holding my camera and finding a unique angle. Now, while I am physically recuperating, standing on a flat surface and taking in an image is still hard to keep steady. It is when I stand on a sloping hill that I need support to be direct and still to capture photos.
It has been a humbling learning experience to accept help to be balanced while creating artwork. It is in these moments that I lean on my fellow artist while I am standing on those unsteady places. Once I finish and I review my photos, I see all the effort paid in directing the camera in the precise angle even while supporting myself with the help of another artist.
Some photographs happen by surprise. During a rainstorm, I was surprised by a hawk perched on a fence post, twirling its feathers in the rain. At times it was still, and then turned as if changing a modelling pose. I grabbed my camera and began taking in the image of the hawk. I had never seen such a hawk up close. It was a marvel to behold all the feathers and see the differences in style and coloring as the hawk moved its wings.
When I visited the beach in Florida for the first time. I was in awe with the interaction between the birds of the seacoast, and the elements they flew and hovered over. I stood on the sand with my sneakers and was able to take photos with the higher-level perspective. Even though it was unsteady for standing, I remained still for balance, I leaned on a dear cousin to capture those photos. When it became tough to stand on the sand, I was able to sit and find a new perspective for the birds on the lower level who walked along the sand and surf as if avoiding traffic in an avenue. It brought me joy to find a small discovery and surprise in a vast seascape.
Another instance of balance is knowing when not to carry everything when you must be stable while photographing my subjects. I visited a different part of the beach and stood on the boardwalk. I trusted my camera equipment bag to my fellow artist while taking in the roaring surf and snapping amazing moments in rare morning light. Trusting someone to lean on and holding your equipment, frees an artist to be in the moment ready for creation.
There are several types of balance. I had to learn to balance myself physically for taking great photographs, and balance what I should carry with me to achieve those photographs. Both require trust and a confidence in believing that it is okay to ask for support to reach the goal.
