At Close Range

Last night I caught a biography of Joel Sartore, a photographer with National Geographic. It was fascinating to see how he does his job and to ogle his equipment. Wish they would have talked more about that. But then, one thing he said that struck me was that he tries to put himself in situations where his mother could take a great photograph. His 600mm lens and considerable talent notwithstanding, I appreciate the need for awareness "outside the camera." Lighting, positioning, patience waiting for the right moment.

He mentioned evening sun and how it makes everything look better. I'm definitely in love with late evening sunlight. How the light shifts and gets warmer, gives everything almost a romantic sheen. I first noticed it in our wedding photos. We got married on the beach in Negril, Jamaica. That yummy sunset light made everything glow. Now I love it when I can get my kids outside and catch them in that evening radiance.

The other thing that struck me in the program was that while jet-setting around the world taking pictures in most incredibly beautiful places sounds exotic and enviable, it actually requires endurance of some awful conditions, risk of scary diseases and takes a toll on personal and family life. He traveled for weeks at a time, making him almost a stranger in his own home. I admire his work, fantasize about making a business out of my hobby, but know that I couldn't take on that kind of schedule. Heck, I get grumpy on a 2-day business trip! And as a spouse, I don't know if I could go it alone like that either. I think they have 3 kids, and that's more than a handful, more than two hands' worth even. It wears me out, wrestling my two into the bath!

I read that his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer and that has changed his priorities. I hope she's ok. I see he published a book on Photographing Your Family earlier this year. I'll have to check it out.