"They say the best photos are taken at sunrise"

But "they" have probably never heard of the art of sleeping in. You know how to stay in dreamland until the sun is already high in the sky."

My big dilemma

Today, let's talk about a thought that has been running through my mind more and more lately. As is often the case, it has everything to do with a desire for a certain branch of photography. I am still searching for what I can use to ignite the real all-consuming fire. And this time my thoughts revolve around Forest Photography. The idea of taking beautiful pictures among the majestic trees and the mysterious morning mist has gripped me. And seriously, I can show you the most amazing photos I've found online, there's just one little problem... I haven't shot such a masterpiece myself lately. The only photo that comes somewhat close to what I would like I took years ago. And that doesn't sit well with me. I'm determined to get what I've seen done. But my god, there is another problem that I just can't seem to get over, and that is… time. It's SO damn early that I should be out of bed. And I just can't seem to get it done.

In the evening I still have the best plans. I set an alarm on my phone. And as soon as that alarm goes off, what feels like the middle of the night, I turn it off and go back to sleep. I spontaneously forget why that alarm rattles at that impossible time, and when I get out of bed around 7 am, it is TOO late again to do what I had planned. Then the magical minutes are already over.

I am a "Night Owl"

You see, the best time to shoot in the woods is either before sunrise or just after sunset. And it seems that my body and my daily schedule have a completely different opinion of these times. I've always been more of an evening person, but I'd still used myself to maintain a somewhat morning rhythm. And it succeeds to some extent. I manage to get up between 6 and 7 every day. But getting out of bed even earlier is a battle I can't win yet.

Catching the golden and blue hour in the evening is also not an option, because then I am busy with a thousand and one things. You would think I could make some time off, but then you wouldn't realize how much I usually have to do in those hours. It's like time is playing a joke on me and makes me think there are more hours in a day than I know.

My garden as a fallback option

Of course, as an avid amateur photographer, my garden is my fallback option in case I once again failed to get up on time. Which, unfortunately, has proven to be the case every day. And that's another problem, because seriously... how many snaps of flowers and bees can you take before you feel like hiding the camera in a flowerpot? It just lacks that "WOW" feeling I so crave.

The need to go out, break the routine and get new visual impressions is getting stronger every day. I'm afraid that if I don't change something soon, I'll slide back into a "Never mind" feeling, which is exactly what I'm trying to avoid. Not only will that feeling make me leave the camera behind when I just found it again. But that feeling can also linger, dominate and cause an early autumn depression. Which the Dutch weather also does its best for. Real summer has only been here for a short time this year ... For the next two weeks we seem to be happy if we get 23 degrees, and rain is in the forecast every day. That's not what makes me happy either.

Overcoming a few hurdles

But yes, as the saying goes, where there's a will, there's a way. Now I have to find that way. And also overcome a few hurdles. First, there is the problem of my transportation. During the day, my partner uses the car to go to work, and the idea of taking my photo gear on a scooter is not convenient. Of course, I can go on foot, but that immediately limits the location very much. I'm not a fan of walking miles alone in the middle of the night far from civilization. Taking my big strong German Shepherd with me is an option if I were to go for a walk, but with a bag full of photo gear it is not such a handy choice. And my ladies are both too old for such an adventure.

Then I immediately mentioned the following. My three cute dogs at home, who I also don't want to leave alone for too long. I know, it's a choice I make. I know that there are people who leave their dogs alone for a long time with peace of mind. I don't belong to that group. But that means that I only go a little further away when my partner is home, and during the weekdays means that I limit myself to the immediate vicinity of my house. If I summarize everything in this way, it seems that I will have to study the trees in my street very closely shortly.

And let's talk about gas prices. Oh, Netherlands, what are you doing? It feels like a financial marathon just to drive to the edge of the forest, let alone look for a forest further away just for the perfect shot.

Oh, then the last problem, but not the least. Although I can often enjoy being alone, I also don't like going out alone all the time. Unfortunately, this is not so easy to change. My partner has his weekend plans, and they mainly consist of staying home after a week of miserable work. Since he brings in the money, I have no choice but to respect and accept his desire to relax and be creative with wood.

Think about solutions!

Now that I've been complaining for a while, I have to say that it's not all as negative as it might seem. It's not that I don't see other things. And hold on! Come to think of it, why am I making it so hard for myself? Why should I focus on those specific times at sunrise and sunset? Isn't there another time in the day when the trees are just as majestic and the sky is just as gorgeous? Can I not make my magical masterpiece at another time?

Maybe, just maybe I should completely let go of my idea of "THE Perfect Picture" and just open my eyes to the beauty the forest has to offer all day long. That twisted Perfectionism that really ′′ LAST ′′ has gotten to me before, that was exactly one of the reasons I don't want to do paid shoots anymore. I impose limitations on myself, I strive for perfection, I have ideas that have to be exactly the way I envision them, and 99 times out of 100 things are slightly different. It's an autistic trait in me that I've been battling all my life. But I have to remind myself again. I don't photograph on commission, I only photograph for myself, I photograph for MY pleasure. Maybe it's time to let go of that damned "Perfectionism"... and do exactly what I said I was going to do. Shooting because I like it!

Maybe I should just do a quick photoshoot in the trees during my lunch. Or maybe I can grab a nice cup of coffee on a Saturday and practice my forest photography skills while the sun hides behind the clouds. Even if there is no more morning fog, and a touch of mysticism to be found ... Hmmm, another possibility is to wait a few more weeks. The sun rises a little later each day. There comes a time when my biological clock is ahead of the sunrise. But by then, it is also cold again...

Let go of obsessions and enjoy photography!

I'm afraid I'll have to try again to adjust my sleep rhythm again. But I'm also going to try to let go of my obsession with that one perfect moment and just enjoy the adventure of forest photography whenever the time may be.

"Forest photography isn't about the perfect shot, it's about the adventure, no matter what time it is."

^{I made that quote up on the spot to make myself feel good}