Do We Forget to Enjoy Our Time in Nature?

Many people like to enjoy time in nature. People achieve this in different ways. Some people like to go out and hike, rock climb, fish, birdwatch, or even hunt. Then there are those of us who like to take pictures. When we photograph nature, we’re supposed to enjoy it, but sometimes we forget that enjoyment.

When we photograph nature, do we always enjoy our time or does our enjoyment get lost in the pursuit of an exceptional photograph? Do we become more concerned about getting a great photo and something for social media, or do we simply enjoy our time in nature?

I think, as photographers, we’ve all been there. We often get so caught up in the pursuit of a certain photograph, that we miss enjoying nature and the presence of God in His creation. I know I’ve done this countless times. What I really need to do is enjoy my time in nature with God.

God’s Gift of a Little Heron

Some of my best my best photographs have come when I truly enjoy my time in and interacting with nature. Sometimes these moments hit me without even pursuing such moments. God just gives them to me!

God hit me with one these moments when I lived in Florida. Early one evening I went to one of my favorite places to photograph, The Orlando Wetlands Park. I arrived shortly before “golden hour” (see my PDF for info on golden hour) and began to walk the slightly elevated trails. On that walk God gave me an awesome encounter with a little tricolored heron.

While walking along the east edge of a pond, I noticed the heron on the south end of the pond. The bird began to head up the eastern shore. I wondered how close it would come to me, so I sat down and began to photograph it.

As the Heron walked, it hunted insects and minnows. Searching for its dinner, it walked closer and closer to me. I kept photographing and got some fun photos. As it continued to forge along the shore it walked within a few feet of me and allowed me to get some great close ups. It eventually walked right by me.

I then got up and walked further down the shore to continue photographing it. When I sat down again, the bird continued to act like I wasn’t there. Its nonchalant attitude allowed our little encounter to repeat itself several times. Not only did I get some awesome photographs, I also really enjoyed my time in nature and interacting with the little heron.

Getting Great Photos While Enjoying Time in Nature

God gave me some remarkable photographic moments with this bird that I still treasure some 20 years later. And, of course, my photographs act as a visual journal of the special moments I had that evening.

One would think I would remember that evening and always photograph with the same mentality. But no, many times photography becomes a task in which I focus on that photograph I “need” to get. I believe this happens to all nature photographers. We get fixated on getting a great photograph or a specific photograph, and we forget to enjoy our time in nature.

But we can change that. When we go outside with our camera, we can always make it a point to enjoy nature as we photograph it.

When you photograph with this mentality, God will give you some wonderful moments in nature to enjoy just as he gave me one evening with a little tricolored Heron.

PS
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