Sometimes an opportunity comes along, you see the shot and every thing is against you. The lighting is extreme and the dynamic range is off the scale. You can shoot for the shadows and blow the high lights or viceversa and block the shadows. But all this is purely academic because the shot is there only for a second and in this case the subject flew away. All the analyzing hopefully is happening but time to act on it just isn't. Shoot and pray, I think I probably do to much of that. I have the vision and internalize it but fail to bring it home technically.

Now here is the thing, and probably every photographer has an opinion about this as well as a lot of the people who view your art. I used the word art specifically to make the point, is photography the capture of a scene and the only artistic parameters allowed framing, position, light and location etc.? Or is it the artistic interpretation of the shot by what ever means to express your vision. I tend to the broader less restricted approach to my craft, but also realize that capturing a shot that expresses your vision and requires no "manipulation" is very fulfilling and rewarding.

The debate of the purity of your craft, regardless of the medium of choice or combinations of mediums has many degrees, layers and points of view. Please yourself and follow your vision is where I stand. I have a particular shot that I have been trying to take for as long as I can remember and I it still eludes me, that is part of the quest for me.

The shot below is an example and the reason for this blog. This photo says something to me and has a feel that I can't quite place, but I took that feeling and my technically challenged shot stirred in a healthy does of "creativity"and here it is.