Monday 9 June 2008

Luck and the Landscape photographer

I was talking to another photographer the other day about Jon Gibbs winning shot in The Landscape Photographer of the year competition. And they were of the opinion that he was just "lucky to be there when the lightning struck".


Storm over Scroby Sands wind farm, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England
by Jon Gibbs

Well to an extent it was true had he just happened to be there at the right time. A landscape photographer has no control overt the lighting or the weather, so it must be down to blind luck....

...or is it? How many times was Jon out on the shores of Norfolk when the lightning didn't turn up? How many times did he walk away with no images worth printing? In landscape photography there really is no substitute for perseverance. As someone once said - "The more I practice the luckier I get".

The Landscape Photographer of the Year 2008 competition is now open to entries, so its well worth seeing if you too can be lucky by being in the right place at the right time.

2 comments:

Scott D. Coulter said...

I distinctly remember the "more I practice, luckier I get" remark having been attributed to tennis great Bjorn Borg, but as I google for it now, it seems to be more generally associated with golfer Gary Player.

In any case, it is still the best comeback for "wow, that was a lucky shot."

--sdc

Chris Shepherd said...

Thanks Scott - you might be right, I couldn't remember who it was I was quoting. Thanks.