Chasing the Lightl

Some day I want to drive a RV all over the continent, on back roads.  And whenever I see a great photo opportunity, I will just wait for the perfect light. Time won't control my pace, light will.

So last weekend, I planned a perfect photo road trip. I was in southwestern Virginia and returned home on the Blue Ridge Parkway. And I was about a week too late. The leaves were not only past their peak but most had fallen off the trees.  But I knew that if I could just get on the road before dawn, I could chase down the fragile morning light and get something.  Which I did.

 I set out to take stunning fall panoramas, leaves of brilliant colors,  winding country roads.  I took photos of barns.  Do you have any idea how many cool, old barns are along that road?   Or how much that slows down your progress? And that there are NO public bathrooms open on the Parkway after October?

Which leads me to the lessons I learned.  Light is really great only about two hours after sunrise.  Leaves look cool with the light shining through them as much as light shining ON them.  I'm drawn to barns. They remind me of my childhood on a dairy farm.  And - empty your bladder before setting out on an adventure.

And remember that when you are open to new possibilities, God opens your eyes to them.  It's not the grand panorama that fills most of our days  but there is always beauty in the details of every day life.  The complex texture of tree bark, the shadows on the barn wood, the one red leaf against the crisp blue sky. All around me are signs and wonders, glimpses of beauty while chasing the light.