Mark Metternich
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PhilPDX wrote:
Love your images. I've always been wondering though, if that kind of approach takes all the fun out of spontaneous photography. To me it would be like driving around in wild places to shoot birds out of the car window instead of hiking to the spot, enjoy the moment and let it surprise me.
-Phil
Thank you very much, Phil. Great question!
My thoughts are that great light and the weather are extremely spontaneous! So, if a person is locked into a linear type of plan or itinerary, they can not or will not do this. That is one thing that is different with my workshops than many others. My goal is to plan and respond to the weather and sometimes this means to literally chase the light! Some won't photograph like that or do workshops that way because maybe they want to be at X (place) on day one, X (place) on day 2 and so forth. When I am simply traveling around photographing for sheer pleasure I still nearly always let the weather lead. I find it thrilling, spontaneous and much more effective in seeing (and photographing) awesome stuff!
It is also how I got CRATER LAKE ELECTRIC
Sure, if I am dogged determined to get a certain type of shot from a certain type of place, I might hunker down and not move for some days (as an example I have stayed out at White Pocket for a week at a time, several times over the years, or certain coastal locations...). But I find that approach generally less interesting and effective.
So, to be a bit more specific... Let's say its the Pacific Northwest (like this shot). I am originally from Oregon and have spent my life searching out hundreds of awesome locations from high desert to waterfalls to coastal locations, rivers, mountains, lakes, secret locations and on and on. When plotting out a trip, again, I study the weather like crazy on the days leading up and I keep an eye on the weather until the last moment where I can make the best decision. It could be north, south, east or west! Everyone has their driving tolerances, so maybe there are 50 or so great places within driving reach. Well, my question is, where is the weather going to be its most interesting? Or where is the great light most likely going to happen? That is almost always the direction to head!
As just one example, last year (with some FM'ers) we literally scored like 5 days in a row (sunrise and sunset and more!) in the desert southwest. I mean EPIC light! Two days in a row we got nearly blood red sunsets and sunrises WITH rainbows and even lightning all at the same time! Everyone was euphoric. How did that happen? I have to require a certain level of adventurous spontaneity out of people on many (not all) of my workshops. In those cases, we go when the season is at its highest potential for awesome light and we go where both knowledge and intuition come together to up the odds dramatically. Photographers ask me all the time: "Why am I not getting that kind of light?" I always inquire about when they go and if they know the best specific weeks or months of the year to get great light. As an example, it always amazes me when people go out to the SW and they do not study the monthly and yearly precipitation data! I lived out there for a long time and I can remember literally going for a month without seeing a cloud! That might bum out some photographers. 
So, not only do I love this approach but those who go out with me generally appreciate a more adventure/spontanous approach. Yes, those type-A personalities (like myself) sometimes have a little bit of a challenge to let go and go with the flow! But for those who can not approach photographing this way, I also do some more linear type of approaches if they need it.
All the best ot you and your chase for amazing light!
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