Recently a friend asked about my creative process after seeing this image posted on social media. Specifically, he asked if I just stumble onto scenes such as this. I wasn't entirely sure of what he meant. Of course there is no guidebook that shows this photo and gives specific GPS coordinates to pinpoint the location, so to me it was kind of an obvious answer - yes, I stumbled onto this scene.

Then, having thought about it a bit more, it occurred to me that the answer is not so straightforward. The process of making an image like this is quite nuanced, and involves many decision points. So I figured I could explain a bit more here, recognizing that everyone has their own process, and their own objectives, so your mileage may vary.

This first post on my creative process is really just about seeing it - the scene, the shiny rock, the twisty wood, a feather, a leaf, a line. Often I set out with my (very heavy) backpack full of camera gear. These days I'm generally carrying a camera body, two lenses, a tripod, filters, cable release, and miscellaneous stuff like extra cards, batteries, and lens wipes. If I know I'll need it, I might bring a longer lens. Oh, and a peanut butter sandwich, which tastes just as good if it gets smooshed. And water, of course. I have these things in hopes of being out there long enough and in just the right place to see the thing!

Yet so many times, in spite of miles of wandering, I come home with nothing I care to show. And still, I know those many hikes, walks, meanders that make nary a dent in my SD card are all a really big part of the creative process.

I sometimes have a sense of what I'll see on my outings, based on where I'm heading and what the weather is doing. Stormy days may lead me to seek big skies with dramatic clouds. Clear skies might push me more toward shadows or water reflections. But mostly I just wander. And I look - not really for things, but at things. A rock, a reflection, a curve, a pattern.

When I made this specific image, I had gone for a late day wander through a short canyon where water flows. It was cold, so I knew that some of the water might be frozen, and often ice gives me interesting subjects. But mostly the water was not frozen and was gurgling along through the canyon. I came to a bend in the river, where the canyon wall created a large overhang just barely tall enough for me to fit under. I could see the dance of sparkly water up on the canyon wall and I stopped to watch and listen. As I moved closer through the wet bank, I noticed a refection of the bright blue sky in a small puddle, and moving closer still I found the curvy lines of the mud. My creative self was very happy, and very curious about what I might do with it. I looked closely at what I'd found, imagined the intended outcome (several, in fact), shot an image, shot another, move, shoot, move.

That's the first step, right there: Placing myself in the environment that feeds my creativity. Wandering. Seeing it. Finding it. Looking again, and really seeing it. Envisioning the outcome. When I came upon this puddle (no thanks to GPS coordinates), I knew I had something I wanted in an image. I also knew that I had to be intentional about the next steps in creating it.

That's the first part of my process. It might seem like a small step but it's significant. Stay tuned for Part II, where I'll show you the frames of this scene that I didn't choose. I know, such intrigue!