I am in no way a fan of Valentine’s Day, as a matter of fact I am trying to start a tradition of spending some quiet time at the Great Sand Dunes National Park during that weekend every year. But I know the conflict of love and photography is something a lot of us struggle with so I wanted to share my thoughts on the topic.
It appears that all of us are in search of the perfect balance between a happy home life and freedom to pursue our passion. Being a woman I am not sure if I am at an advantage or disadvantage here but that’s the only perspective I have and can only guess how it compares to men. I don’t even know if being male or female really plays any role in it since one can have a very understanding partner (male or female) or quite the opposite. Some people might not be fine being left behind while we’re out on a photo shoot every weekend. It takes a special person to put up with us 
So if you are a significant other to a photographer this might be some insight that may help you better understand the person you’re with.
From what I have seen so far nature photographers (myself included) are a bit of solitary creatures. And it has nothing to do with our personalities but more with how we work. I know a lot of photographers who love to socialize and meet people at gatherings and art shows. But when it comes to being “out there” capturing the scene, we do best alone. And that’s where the challenge comes in. We want to spend time with our loved ones and even invite them on our photo trips. I actually love it when I can show someone that special moment when the light is perfect, the color is nothing like what they have ever seen before and they instantly understand (I hope) the feeling I get when I am able to witness and capture that moment. However, how may of us have been on trips where we could spend hours photographing a waterfall but in the back of our head’s there is that thought that others are waiting for you and they are bored, cold, hot, etc. Even if they are patient and not in any discomfort, that thought in your head can take over and impede the creative process. You feel rushed and not focusing on producing your best work. Where as, if I was there alone, I could focus all of my attantion inside that viewfinder where time has no meaning.
So we have to find ways to compromise. Obviously things are easier if you have found someone who at least shares your love of the outdoors. This way you can include them in a trip and reserve some alone time for the photo shoots. And I guess I should consider myself lucky in that respect, having found someone who I can drag around the world on my crazy adventures with a smile on his face. Or maybe luck has nothing to do with it. I don’t think I could see a future with someone who was not as passionate about the outdoors as I am.
And then there are the hours we spend alone in front of a computer or in the dark room processing what we have captured. Followed by more hours on internet photo forums talking about the images and gear (which we can never have too much of). Let’s face it, we’re not the easiest people to be with or around. For the most part we’re driven to the point of obsession to chase the light and capture it and sometimes we forget about the world and people outside of that viewfinder.
I don’t know if there is a happy ending out there for all of us. The optimist in me believes there is but people change and happy endings are not always in the stars. For now all I can do is try to step away from the camera from time to time and try to understand that I can’t always have it my way and that sometimes I have to compromise. And hope that the person I am with can deal with my random solo trips and that those trips and this hobby keep me sane so that when I come home I can be a better, more understanding person.
