As a Photographer, No One is a Stranger For Long

One of the cool things about being a photographer is that you get to meet some of the best people. It’s rare that I go out in nature and not run into someone who is interested in what I am looking for or what I have found that day. They often have stories to tell of the sights they have seen and I get to know them a little as we share stories of nature and wildlife.

While I am mostly focused on landscape, nature and wildlife photography these days, I still can’t resist taking photos of unusual scenes or just going into a downtown area and getting photos of life in the city. On a recent trip to the Everglades, my wife and I decided to stop for lunch in Goodland, a small fishing village (pop. 267) off the beaten path on Marco Island. We met someone on the trail in the Everglades who suggested we go to Stan’s. She was a fellow photographer and had been documenting the 10,000 Islands area for a while.

We grabbed a table next to the water and ordered our lunch. I had my back to the bar and my wife nudged me to turn around. We hadn’t noticed when we walked in that there was a dog sitting at the bar. It was one of those photo moments I couldn’t resist. I grabbed my camera and headed for the bar. There I met Wilson, a terrier mix, who had been coming to Stan’s for 11 years. He was a fixture at the bar. So much so, that Wilson’s 18th birthday party will be held at Stan’s on Dec. 14.

I talked to Mark Bromley, Wilson’s traveling companion/bar mate/designated driver, who clearly enjoyed a bit of celebrity status thanks to his pup. Wilson had his own super-sized mug that he brings to the bar. It is filled with water these days, although at one point Wilson had a penchant for a bit of the hard stuff, but he had to give it up. A woman on the other side of Mark, delivered a treat for Wilson. The terrier wasn’t about to wait for someone to get around to opening the package so he helped himself.

Mark told me Wilson was famous around Goodland, his picture was hanging at several bars. The framed photo at Stan’s was a beat beat up after hurricanes and repairs and pressure washing but Mark was ready to print and frame a new photo for the new season.

We chatted long enough to get an email address and to score an official invitation to the Dec. 14 birthday party. If you don’t see us around that day, you can be sure we’re having some cake…I wonder if it will be peanut butter or carrot.

There is Always Something to See

I recently spent a morning with my friend and fellow photographer Steve Nelson. After debating several options for places to photograph, we settled on Robinson Preserve in Manatee County, Florida. We figured it was pretty reliable and we only had a couple of hours in the morning to allow Steve to try out his new video equipment and for me to get some nature shots.

When we arrived at the preserve we were greeted by a frustrated photographer who told us there was nothing out there that day. We decided to give it a try anyway: Here’s what we found.

My best advice to fellow photographers is to not get discouraged if you don’t see what you came out looking for. There is always something out there to see. Sometimes you just have to change your perspective. When I don’t see wildlife, I look at the landscape. Sometimes I look up, sometimes I get low to the ground. The world is an amazing place and there is always something there that others might not see. Sometimes they’re just not looking for what someone else might find fascinating.