Timing is Everything

Vanderbilt Mansion in Asheville, North Carolina

As a travel photographer, a great photo hinges upon the ability to be "in the right place at the right time."  A marginal variance of only five minutes can make the difference between "great" or "too late".

Look at the example to the right.  The photo on the left was taken at the height of "golden hour", a fleeting moment of time while the sun begins its descent, casting warm, golden hues across the land, creating magical soft shadows and glowing tones.  The colors created by this effect are vivid and create an enchanting mood of romance and mystique.  The photo on the right was taken just five minutes later with the same camera settings and appears dull, flat, and even cool and uninviting.

Parliment in Budapest, Hungary at dusk

As I travel around the world, stalking my "prey" on my hunt for a great photo, I diligently plan out my daily itinerary, making every effort to be "in the right place" at the "right time."  Sometimes it's early in the day when most tourists are still eating breakfast, "golden hour," or that second magical time of day: just moments past sunset when the skies are blended with the waning warm tones of the day and the cool, moodiness that descends as dusk approaches.  This second magic hour is often my favorite time of day to photograph.  The skies are lit up with purple tones, and the street lights are just beginning to glow, illuminating a new landscape as nightfall descends.

"Plans," are fragile things, often falling prey to the circumstances of life, be it inclement weather, travel delays, or other unforeseen obstacles and hurdles that often trip up even the most seasoned traveler.  Ah, yes, there are many well-intended masterpieces that you will never see in my portfolio, due to being as few as only five minutes too late.  Timing is everything.