NIGHT FLOWER II

CORNWALL, UK, 2025

Photographers don't practice enough. We should practice as much as athletes do. Everyday. That's why I bring my camera with me on my 6.30am walks to the gym. I take the same route every day but make different photos every time. 

Most of these frames are just for practice. They don't make it past the SD card. But there are some unexpected moments you encounter even in the most mundane scenarios. 

I noticed a large bush with many flowers that I wanted to film. At first, I thought it was too dark to make a print. But then I noticed at the bottom of the bush was a single flower, lit by the sidewalk light. I knew that if I managed to pull this off, I'd end up with a unique scene worth printing. I envisioned a simple portrait. Simple isn't always easy, though. 

It was challenging to make a composition without the streetlight spilling into the frame. This caused tension. The camera was also being pushed to its limit. If I pushed it even more, it would've resulted in a grainy image. 

I decided to get closer and lower, tilted to the right and made the frame at the decisive moment. The light wasn't spilling in, and the flower was sharp. Result. 

You may look at the rain, the darkness or a routine walk as non-photogenic, but you miss all the shots you don't make. I'm an advocate for planning your prints before making them, but I understand the importance of daily practice. You don't want to arrive at your scene after months of planning and mess up the entire shoot because you were rusty and made rookie mistakes. Mistakes are avoidable with consistent practice. This moment triumphs the beauty nestled amongst the mundane. Take your camera everywhere you go, and watch your ability grow. 

"TAKE YOUR CAMERA EVERYWHERE YOU GO, AND WATCH YOUR ABILITY GROW. 

–JACOB J. WATSON-HOWLAND

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