558 - Tight Pond
Sometimes when I’m in exceedingly scenic areas, I can’t stop shooting. To the point where it’s a problem. So I’m coining a new word today- photoholic.
Let me give you some context first. Every month I shoot the first two weeks in nature, work the second two weeks in a city, then post the content over the course of the entire month. Then I rinse and repeat.
This breaks down to 2-3 pieces of content per week. And during those two weeks of photography, I go hard. Like sloppy drunk falling down stairs hard, except the photography version.
But I’m trying to control it. I tell myself at the start of every trip, “I’m only going to shoot once per day. NO MATTER WHAT.” Because in reality, that’s what works. Half a day to shoot, and half a day to edit, write, and post. No more, no less.
However, my strung-out mind simply won’t accept that narrative.
More often than not, I end up bingeing, which leads me to shoot both sunrise and sunset. If it’s overcast, game over. I’m shooting all day.
My sleep schedule can’t keep up. Out of anticipation for the final result, I find myself editing into the wee hours of the night. Next thing you know, it’s sunrise again, and I’m out shooting with three hours of sleep.
The crazy part is that half the time I’m so awestruck by the insane landscapes, that my mind doesn’t even realize the state it’s too late.
I’ve hinted at this addiction in the past, but it wasn’t until this particular trip that it truly felt like a problem. Why? Well, I presume it’s these fall colors. The leaves are like cocaine to me.
They slowly fade with time, and I’m out here sniffing for every ounce of color I can find before it’s gone. It truly feels like there’s no tomorrow, and I’m all in each day.
Therefore, in favor of this wild obsession, I’ve got a particularly dark image today:
“Speckled Dopamine”
Taken with Sony a7rIV + Sony 24-105mm f/4 G
[ISO 640 ~ 51mm ~ f/7.1 ~ 1/125s]
(Want a Print? Get one here.)
That’s what my mind feels like now. Scraps of colorful dopamine, surrounded by utter darkness.
I’m in deep.
I’d spent the previous morning shooting Basin Cascades, the previous night shooting St. Matthew’s Chapel, this morning shooting Flume Gorge, the afternoon shooting the Kancamagus Highway, and now I was here. Wherever this was.
Apparently it’s called “Tight Pond.” I just looked on a map.
I don’t even know how I ended up here. I was driving to another photo spot for sunset, saw this pond reflection on the side of the road, and pulled over immediately. I was on private property, but I didn’t process that entirely. My brain was willing to do anything for that sweet, sweet color right now.
Anyway. That’s the state of my mind right now, in case you were wondering. Someone get me to rehab.
Or don’t.
I’m on a mission to explore as much as humanely possible.
Want to see my progress? Check out the Adventure Map.
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