Danella Photographic

I set out on a road trip with high hopes that I would photograph an award, winning scene to enter in one of the local hometown photography contests in New Hartford, New York.  The window of time was limited to 48 hours and the forecast was not very promising.  If the forecast was accurate, I had a day of sun and the other, 100% chance rain.  None the less, off I went, heading for… well… where else … the Adirondacks.

On a sunny fall day, one could surely count on, at the very least, capturing the picturesque Adirondack foliage.  Feeling discouraged, I realized even the best foliage shots of the Adirondack region, are probably a dime a dozen.  I didn’t want one of those photos you hang on your wall as a personal moment.  I wanted something different, something others would enjoy too.  None the less, off I went to the heart of the Adirondack Park.

 For two hours, I agonized over the whole assignment.  What would separate my photos from the others?  … not much.  Unless… for one moment of luck, you know, the right time, right place… I would come upon a something worthy of sharing. As I gazed ahead, traveling along 28 North, my mind was on over drive, searching for my inner most common thread of inspiration. 

Before I knew it, I found myself in Saranac, four hours later, parked along the side of Flower Lake.  Just a few weeks before I had been in my glory photographing the brave participants of the ADK 90 mile Canoe Classic.  If only I could submit one of those photos.  While there were many incredible subjects to photograph, one in particular really caught my eye.  An ageless women of great strength and clearly… an endless spirit of positive energy.  I captured her spirit of energy,  paddling her team toward the finish line.  A smile came across my face and it was at that moment, when I realized that my mission, wasn’t going to be about capturing that award winning photo for the pending photo contest.  I relaxed and went about my business, knowing that those serendipitous moments are special.  When you see it… you just know it.  Keeping in mind the 100 mile radius, I realized I was just a little off course. I turned the car around on day two, and drove all the way home through the damp and rainy day with no subject in site, so I thought.

 As it turned out, I found photographing life in the rain to be far more fun than those with sun.   Nature reacted differently. I reacted differently. A simple brown puddle of water, a natural lavender hue on the water reflecting the distant rays of light, golden leaves floating in the easterly wind, and spiked green grass here and there.  Hummm… brown, lavender, gold, and green.  This was it… a picture of beauty.  I titled it, Golden Grace.

Well, I didn’t quite capture that award-wining photo, but I did learn that inclement weather brought many magical gifts to the eye at work.  More importantly, I found even greater pleasure  meeting the many other talented photographers, who too, worked through their 48 hour mission, trying to capture what would turn out to be, no matter what, a special photograph of a life time. 

Special thanks to the New Hartford Town Crier Newspaper, the New Hartford Library  for providing us the time and display space, and to Guy Danella and pit crew, for organizing the contest.

Cynthia Law, New Hartford NY