Sometimes you just "see" it

It has happened to us all.  A moment of inspiration when suddenly, when you weren't expecting it, you just "see" it.  Those moments are great and I had one this weekend as I drove around with my camera shooting photos for our new listings.

There is a certain spot overlooking San Pablo Bay right where the Napa River flows in that I just KNOW has good views on a clear day- except that I’ve never actually caught the shot that I just know is possible from that location.  I once had a very accomplished photographer share with me that one of the “secrets” of great photographers is going back.... and back.... and back to a spot until they get the shot that they just know is there.

All around town the sky was blue with white puffy clouds.  Since the weather was right and the sun was in the “right” direction I drove over to check it out.  I wanted the gorgeous blue sky shot that I could see in my mind’s eye.

No dice.  Very flat, bland overcast.  San Pablo Bay is an extension of San Francisco Bay so there are tidal influences and sometimes a wisp of ocean weather.  Today’s ocean weather was a very heavy haze that hadn’t burned off yet and I didn’t have time to wait.  Disappointed, I put my camera away, got back in my car and drove.

As I drove around the corner – I saw it.  Well, I “saw” it even though it really wasn’t what was staring me in the face.  This is the photo straight out of the camera:

But, this was it!  This was better than the gorgeous blue sky shot I had in my minds eye (Well, in my mind’s eye I’m also not looking over at the industry on the far bank but instead pointed out towards the water itself). 

The abandoned and decrepit old pier jutting out by itself has a story to tell. 

It just needs a little help is all.

So, being the helpful sort, I wrestled this out of the shot above.

I probably have an advantage since I have one of those super-sized Mac screens but this is one of those shots that needs to be viewed BIG to appreciate it! 

Your eyes start in the corner at the foreground weeds, then follow the abandoned pier and wonder about its history.  Then your eyes travel over the waves in the water, catch the drama in the clouds and you wonder if weather is on the way. You note the smoke stacks and industry on the far shore.  Were those smoke stacks there when the pier was first built? Is that a ship over to the right? Solitude. A sort of beauty in an unlikley location.

This is not my normal style of photography but this one is going to get blown up big, double-matted and framed.

Oh yeah, the listing photos came out nice too.