When I travel I take along at least one camera.  Usually it's my trusted P&S.  On this particular trip I was in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada and had a bit of time on a cold winter afternoon, the day after a snowfall.

At first I just wanted to stretch my legs.  I went passed what looked a bit interesting....it caught my eye.  I made a mental note about coming back later when the sun cast longer shadows.  Little did I know that my walk was thwarted a bit when my memory card filled up and I felt compelled to go back to my hotel room to pick up my additional memory card.

This time when I passed the interesting subject, the shadows were the length that I was looking for.  Just one lone plant, clean fresh snow, and long shadows....that was my vision.

PAD Feb 21 Late Day Sun and Snow One So, what attracted me to this particular composition?

When I first walked by, I noticed the untouched snow.  You could smell it's freshness (probably intensified by the fact that it was around zero at the time) so you get a sense of snow and coldness and freshness all in one blast.  I was also interested in the shadows.  A reflection that's both real and abstract.

And I wanted the composition to be somewhat on a diagonal to give it a little more of a dynamic flair.  I took several shots and this one was on more of a diagonal than the others (remember it was cold so laying in the snow to get the shoot was not one of my preferred options).

So, what does this say about self-expression?

As soon as I saw this plant and the snow, I had a composition in mind, a vision for what the shot might look like.  So self-expression has something to do with pre-visualizing the shot and imagining what it might look like in your mind.  

Another aspect is patience.  Waiting for the light to be right or to coincide with your vision of the shot.  Taking several shots in order to get the right look and feel.  It's not a snapshot, but a shot that took some forethought.

Knowing the composition needs to use compositional elements, like diagonals, to give it a special look and feel.

Recognition is also a part of this.  There are a series of possible shots that are in your head that you want to take.  Some people think....I want a picture of the Snake River in the Tetons, just like Ansel Adams.  This isn't as grand as that....but it's a vision of a shot and the recognition that it's there...you have to take it.....you have to wait until it's the right shot.

And, what does this say about me?

When I look at this image, I see it's simplicity...the plant, it's shadow, the background of pristine snow.  Not much in the shot.  I appreciate it's cleanness.

It's also a memory jogger for me.  I can remember everything about taking this shot...going out on a walk, seeing the lone plant, passing it by, running out of space on my memory card on my camera, trying to decide whether to go back to the hotel, making the decision to walk the mile back because I wanted to take more pictures and I wanted to check on the lighting and composition of "my shot".  Feeling the cold as I took off my gloves and got my camera into position.  Checking my exposure and image after each shot, putting my gloves on again as I warmed my hands.  Feeling a warm glow inside because I knew that I got my shot....the one that I envisioned.