My partner and I were recently driving down a country road in Michigan when we passed by this Coke machine sitting in a field in front of a shed. It looked as if it had landed there from outer space. I didn't have my "real" camera. The subject was backlit in a way that made getting any kind of decent exposure next to impossible with my phone camera. There was a temptation to wait and get it later when conditions were better, but we weren't sure we would pass by there again. However, the opportunity did present itself to shoot it again on our way out of that little town. The lighting was perfect that morning - although I still didn't have my real camera, I was excited at encountering the machine again in hopes of getting a better image. Just as we turned the corner, the machine was gone - as if it had never been there at all. Poof, back into outer space.
It really drove home the message that inspiration can't wait for ideal conditions. You just have to dive in and do it when the muse calls.
"Space Machine" ©2010 Kathryn Van Aernum, All Rights Reserved
