Safe Opportunities

As primarily a nature photographer, I enjoy being outdoors photographing.  Often the things I want to photograph require me to travel at odd hours of the day or night, hike to get to my subject matter, and be in isolated locations.

While this may seem ideal to many, for a female photographer, it can be less than optimal.

I would like to start by sharing a story.  One day, I saw an area of gorgeous wildflowers that were blooming along an off ramp on a busy stretch of highway.  The flowers stretched the entire way up this off ramp.  I had just gotten into “the zone” (happy place of creating with my camera) when another car pulled off not far from my vehicle.  At first, I didn’t think much of it.  A man got out of the vehicle and started making his way towards me.

There are just times when you know things are not the way they should be.  You get a feeling in your gut.  When the man approached too close to me and started taking pictures of the flowers with his cell phone within feet of me, I took my gear and went to sit in my vehicle.

Situations like this led me to finding groups to shoot with.  I have gone on workshops and photo tours in order to be able to spend a lot of time photographing with like-minded people.  This not only allows me to be with like-minded, creative people, but it also allows me to travel to more remote locations to photograph while feeling very safe.

The image above is one of my favorite images that I have created this fall.  I took this image while attending a workshop with Mountain to Sea Workshops http://mountainstoseaworkshops.com/.  I have attended multiple workshops with Alistair Nicol and Tommy White.  I have enjoyed learning with them and going to the wonderful locations they have taken me to while being a workshop participant.

I just recently returned from participating in a photo walk with one of my wonderful teachers, Les Saucier http://lessaucier.com/, and other members of the Arcanum http://www.thearcanum.com/ .   The weekend was a phenomenal weekend of learning, photographing, sharing, and friendship.  This was another very pleasant, safe environment which allowed me to be creative.

Here are some of the images from this experience.

I strongly encourage you to find wonderful groups that you can enjoy common travel and learning experiences.  You will find that your creativity will soar if you feel safe and comfortable.

Additionally, my husband is very thankful that he has to be dragged less often to these remote locations so I can get the shot!