Look Over Your Shoulder!
Some of the best shots are the result of careful planning taking into consideration background, lighting, camera angle, extensive calculations of location of the sun at a given hour and selection of the right camera body, lens, filters, tripods, etc. Other good shots just happen.
In this case, I was returning from two day investigation of a railroad injury case that involved several alleged causes of injury, cumulative stress syndrome for improperly maintained (and designed) switches, moving awkward and heavy shoring and dunnage and a fall down an interior stairway in a locomotive repair facility of a short-line railroad. The ergonomic studies of the physical stress experienced by the plaintiff, an Engineer, Conductor/Switchman were brilliantly done and eventually presented by an excellent biomechanical engineer and egronomist, Dr. Wilson “Toby” Hayes. My primary task was to evaluate the interior stairway and correlate the physical defects with the mechanics of fall and then address standards of construction and maintenance. The relatively dark locomotive service and repair shop sucked up light like a sponge. I didn’t bring the proper two-stop soft-edge neutral density filter to control window glare, so I had to rely on a series of photographs with a modest amount of fill flash. After about 30 or 40 exposures, I had court evidence quality photographs that would illustrate my technical testimony, but while they were technically accurate, they were flat, uninspired and frankly dull. As a forensic engineer, I had what I needed, but as a photographer the photographs left a lot to be desired. Good composition often adds interest and impact to mundane photos.
On the long 300 mile drive home, I kept a sharp eye out for photo subjects that would be artistically pleasing. I was too tired and discouraged to appreciate probably dozens of great set ups. Finally, about 3 miles from home, I was crossing the dry Mojave River. As I checked for traffic in the rear view mirror for a lane change, I noticed some great color in the western sky. Over my shoulder I could see the beginnings of a great sunset. Not the fiery red of most of our desert sunsets, but a rich gold. I drove off the road near a small grove of Joshua trees which would frame my sunset and managed to get off 3 or 4 shots before I lost the light.
The photo above was one of the keepers. I nearly missed the shot because I was so intent of looking ahead, I forgot to look over my shoulder and behind. As an optimist, I always look ahead for the best my world has to offer, but I often fail to look behind to see and appreciate what has already been. When I was a small child I used to listen to an early morning radio show on KOIN (Portland) where the host, Johnny Carpenter, closed each broadcast with a short prayer for our troops fighting in the South Pacific and Europe and this saying: “live well this day, for each day well lived makes each yesterday a dream of happiness and each tomorrow a vision of hope.” Look over your shoulder sometimes; the beauty is often there to be remembered and appreciated.
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