The Anticipation Begins…

Anticipation, excitement, energy. What is it about travel that heightens the senses? In a few hours I leave for my next big assignment. For me it will be a new country, a new culture and likely completely new experiences. The unknown pushes me outside of my comfort zone and rekindles my passion for exploration and creative endeavors. Just thinking about the trip makes my heart beat a little faster and my mind real at the possibilities. Anticipation builds for the experiences I am about to encounter. Scenes start playing out in my mind, and I start to pre-visualize the images I might come home with.

I believe pre-visualization and planning are fundamental in making things a reality. Without vision, thought, time and effort how can you expect to succeed? You cannot go into something blind without an idea. This is so important beyond just making great photography. Sure–it is critical towards making great images a reality. However, it is also imperative as a way of living. How can you create a life or achieve a goal without first knowing where it is you want to go?

So, how do we do this? How does one pre-visualize while remaining open and flexible without losing sight of their original idea? Once the anticipation of a shoot turns into an unanticipated reality, do we abandon our original ideas? Or do we allow reality to help shape and morph our thoughts and ideas into something new — something better than we ever could have imagined? Are the unforeseen moments welcome friends or shunned enemies?

Personally I cherish the unknown and revel in the adversity that affects life. I am a firm believer that all things happen for a reason and have their place and purpose. For me, getting outside the box pushes, expands and moves my creative soul. Whenever I travel to some place unfamiliar and face new experiences, I am forced out of my comfort zone into a whole new world or way of thinking. Is it always a comfortable process–not necessarily, but I welcome it because that is where the growth takes place and the milestones are met. So it is with an open mind that I head out today. But my most valuable tool will not be the equipment I take or even sketches of possible shots in my bag. The anticipation of what’s to come and the flexibility with which I meet it–that is what I know from experience will make all the difference.

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