Five miles from home

The goal of creative photography goes beyond the mere production of images that are technically good or that adequately reflect the subject as seen; rather, the goal is to produce images that uniquely represent the photographer’s vision and possess meanings beyond the literal visual elements they portray.

~Guy Tal

As a lifelong wanderer and as a landscape photographer, I love to travel far and wide. In New England I dream of weeks hiking in the Greens, Whites, Catskills and the 'daks. I yearn for weeklong drives up the coast, meandering from the Cape way up though Maine. Farther afield I dream of weeks to explore the Smokies or the Outer Banks . . . not to mention dream trips exploring the Rockies or the Big West. Wandering fuels my photographic passion. Discovering new and beautiful places feeds my soul. 

This year though, I will shoot close to home. My discovery will be rediscovery. With a lovely two-month old daughter at home, my time and inclination to travel is scaled way back. These days I'm happy to find two hours to explore a streambed or a riverbank close to home.

Within five miles of home I have a few favorite shooting spots that I hit each season, every year. I'll check out the roadside bog in Canterbury that colors a little differently every season every year depending on water levels and temperature. The trailless shore along the Contoocook is a perpetual favorite. And I sometimes shoot Riley Bog a couple times a week going to or from work. Our once-feral black cat Riley adopted us there when he was a starving kitten.

A couple weeks ago I spent two hours slowly working a quarter mile of Merrimack River shoreline 5 minutes from home. I have walked this stretch of riverbank many times. That day was one of the first cool foggy mornings announcing the change of seasons. I was happy. And as photographically creative and productive in those couple hours as I have been most anywhere. That morning the fog lingered for hours. Working the shoreline the sun started to peak through and finally one lone fisherman appeared, rock hopping to an island just offshore as I packed up for the walk back to the car.

Shooting close to home pushes me to look beyond the obvious and to try to find something more intimate. I imagine being inspired by the spirit of a place. It may be a hokey idea, but it often feels almost true.

  

Fall is here. I’ll mostly stay in central New Hampshire. It is good to be home.