Mint and Clouds, Albion Basin, Utah

Time is a component of every image, but not every moment is created equally. Timing can be as important in photography as light. Legendary photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson is well known for applying the idea of the decisive moment to photography. His candid images of people combined the meticulous organization of visual elements with the culmination of the moment.

This same principal can also be applied to landscape photography. Landscapes have their decisive moments as well. Luckily for landscape photographers these moments come and go on a near daily basis. One thing is for sure, the landscape is not static. It’s in a constant state of flux. Light and weather can change by the second and the continual progression of the seasons guarantees transformation.

Donut Falls, Wasatch National Forest, Utah

I was headed for big cottonwood canyon with less than two hours till sunset. My plan was to stop at the s-curve, get out of the car and walk along the creek in search of interesting combinations of rock, water, and reflection. I was hoping to see late sunlight break through the clouds, shine on cliffs and reflect in the creek. As I drove up canyon, this scenario seemed less and less likely. The sky now looked completely overcast, a white dome.

Trying to stay positive, I reminded myself that the creek shows different faces throughout the four seasons; there’s always something interesting to discover, it’s just a matter of physical and visual exploration. There’s always power in moving water. Always the potential to create an image that can transcend subject matter.

One of the things I love about photographing flowing water is that it’s always rendered in a way that cannot be seen. Faster shutter speeds show more detail than the eye can discern. Slow shutter speeds, a dreamy blur. I am convinced that interesting images can be created any time of year along any creek, river or stream, by focusing attention on intimate details.