California Dreaming or Always Looking Back

Downtown California Cows, Morro Bay, CA © 2010 Janie McRae

 

When you are traveling, remember: stand still, look up, look around, but before you shoot, turn around and look behind you!  I mentioned this in the last post, and I would have not found my California cows without remembering it. Of course this tip doesn't serve you very well without the next statement: always carry your camera with you-you never know when you might run into some cows.  And that is exactly what happened to me in Morro Bay, CA in July.

Now you are probably thinking, what a dumb thing to say, carry your camera with you. Well, there are plenty of photographers out there who question the need for their camera if they are just making a quick trip to the grocery store! But when you are in a different environment, you never know when or where you are going to find "the shot".

Photo above, Downtown California Cows, Morro Bay, CA, was taken on during a quick trip to Albertson’s Grocery in downtown Morro Bay in July ’10. After parking the car and walking toward the entrance, I turned around and took a direct look at the hills behind me. And there they were! The California cows were in grazing mode, (aren’t they always?) looking very sleek, very black and very serene in their golden California hills with the blue sky and puffy white clouds. The juxtaposition of contented city cows and high tension wires had a calming effect on me. Slow down, take this picture. It was fun, and the best part of the shoot? I did not disturb their day, not one bit.

Two seemingly minor lessons that will yield big impacts:

                                   

the tips:
Always look up, look around when you are shooting.

Remember to turn around - - look behind you!
Please don't moan and groan later:  be prepared for that shot: always carry your camera.