At the top of Sahalie Falls on the McKenzie River. To my everlasting photo-nerd shame I managed to blow focus at F/5.6 with a 21mm lens. The worst part is that I was using hyperfocal distance and still managed to front focus so badly that the image is almost unusable. In addition, this was an oddly monochromatic environment with the exception of the extreme water and sun highlights. Not an easy image to edit. You can probably see I gave up without really finishing the image. Sometimes it’s better just to go out and reshoot. Or, to quiet my inner critic and enjoy the moment.
I’m sure my travel buddy won’t mind another trip up the McKenzie River.
But let’s get real here, Sahalie Falls is gorgeous whether or not it works well with a monochrome camera. Yes, I’m sure the image could be better. Both because I was busy keeping my kid out of the McKenzie River and because this is a new camera to me. That’s the thing, though, sometimes photography is about being part of a moment, or at least catching a moment. It doesn’t have to be about technical perfection.
I’m not going to worry about how sharp it is at 100% enlargement. I will to look at it and it’s going to make me want to go back and do more of this type of thing with my kids. I’m going to look at this image and think about how kids can go from shy and reserved to outgoing and fearless just by taking them up into the woods to see something new and beautiful.
Sahalie Falls is just one of many locations in the McKenzie river corridor where I plan to take my kids as they grow up. I can’t think of a better place or way to spend time with them.
Photography Notes
I absolutely do not care about Leica as a brand. The heritage, history, philosophy, pricing strategy.. it’s all business and I just don’t care. However, I am beginning to love the cameras. I haven’t felt this connected to photography, or my subjects while shooting, for a very long time. So, I like that Leica has made oddball cameras like their Monochrom and screen-less M-D series available. The do genuinely offer a distinct way of working, and it feels both natural and connected to me. Hopefully I won’t need the kidney I had to sell to afford the camera…