Unaccompanied.
I tend to be a task-orientated person. Once I have an objective in mind, that is all I can concentrate on until it is complete. This can be detrimental when enjoying a relaxing walk in the woods. This was the situation a few weeks ago in Pennsylvania. I had set out on a trail. I told myself I would slow down and relax, enjoying the walk, the woods, and the experience. I knew there was a waterfall towards the end of my loop trail. I wanted to try and create a time-lapse of this waterfall. So I set off to enjoy my walk and make a time-lapse of a waterfall at the end of the hike. This is where my initial plan fell apart. I forgot about enjoying the woods and set off to find that waterfall. It was no longer a leisurely hike through the woods but more of a speed hike to get to the waterfall. I was speed hiking past any number of possible compositions. I stopped in this moment of realization about the hectic pace. I removed my camera from my bag to remove a barrier to taking photographs. If I am already holding my camera, I am far more likely to explore any potential compositions I might find. So, with my camera now in hand, I resumed my leisurely enjoyable walk through the woods.
Shortly after my adjustment, I came across this scene. A single leaf sitting on a log over a rushing river. I could have walked past this spot if I had not slowed down and reminded myself to enjoy my day. I am so happy I did not. This has become one of my favorite images of the year. I love scenes like this; they are simultaneously simple, peaceful, complex, and nerve-wracking. The chances of that leaf staying on that log are fleeting, so seeing it with my own eyes and creating this image is fantastic. The time I spent sitting beside the river photographing this single leaf was serene. It indeed was a relaxing and enjoyable moment, one I am thrilled to have had the chance to witness. And one I would have missed had I not relaxed and enjoyed my hike.
