I have a problem with this discussion. First of all, the real
"professionals" rarely shoot in the same locations and times as
the wannabes. Granted, our National Parks have dictated our
spots to us with railings and boardwalks, but that doesn't mean
that we have to shoot in exactly the same spots and manner as
the "Look at me, I'm shooting a Can*n El*n and I saved a bundle
by getting a $15.00 tripod (with geared center post) thrown in
for free" morons. But I digress...
Anyway, the professionals will capture the "placement" shots
that everybody else gets, but the professionals are also working
when the masses aren't there. I hate being part of a mob.
People make me extremely nervous. Especially when my "escape
path" is blocked. (the recent nightclub disasters prove that
point). You can't get decent shots when the boardwalk is
bouncing under the weight of a hundred obese women in polyester
stretch pants yelling "Johnny, I've told you a dozen times to
stop dangling your sister over the edge of the cliff like that."
Professionals typically shun mob locations, unless they are
getting pictures of the mob or if there is absolutely no other
option. As many times as I've been to the top of Clingman's
Dome in the Smokies, I count the photos taken up there to be
among my least favorite. My most favorite are those that
required a bit of sacrifice to get. Hiking the ridgelines will
give you different views as will just hiking back down the road.
One year I parked at Newfound Gap and used my mountain bike to
bicycle up the closed road to Clingman's Dome. I got fantastic
pictures along the way and if memory serves me, I never got to
the top because I ran out of film first. (Besides, the snow was
getting deep--I vowed to bring my X-country skis next time).
Another time, I mountain biked DURING THE WINTER up the
northside of Mt. Rogers in SW Virginia. Granted I wiped out a
few dozen times on pure ice, but managed to get shots that I
knew were entirely unique. Unfortunately, nearly the entire
trip's worth of photos were destroyed during processing.
Photography is a lot like camping. Some people prefer to camp
in organized campgrounds that mimick a third-world refuge camp,
rather than getting away from others, electricity, wet restrooms
and long shower lines. I much prefer to utilize the 4WD or even
my backpack to get to the truely beautiful spots where you can
wake up in the morning, open the rainfly of your tent and see
and hear nature instead of snoring, generators and crying babies
in the next site 3 meters away. Nothing is as heavenly as a hot
shower after a few days of backpacking.
AG-Calgon Take Me Away-Schnozz
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