I am what I call, “Street Learned” in the German language.  What I have learned is from being out and about, listening and connecting with people.  Needless to say, I misinterpret things from time to time.  This is a story about one such time, but how mistakes can be rather wonderful if you embrace them.

On this particular day, I was excited to find a poster in town announcing a “Open house” or in German, “Open Door Day” at our local bee keepers organization.   Since moving to this village I have been a bit fascinated by this square box of a building hidden off the road a bit.  It had a sign with a painted bee and a hive announcing they sold honey.  Being a honey lover, I knew I just had to get in there one day.

When the  appointed day arrived and I waited patiently for the time printed on the poster…camera gear at the ready.  Ever in search of new and diverse subjects to photograph and document, the whole idea of learning more about the bees was thrilling.

I arrived on that sunny summers day, dressing in a thin cotton dress and sandals.  The parking lot was full, which was a good sign.   I entered the dark building and once my eyes made the adjustment to the low light, I realized I was standing in a classroom.  The room was full of adult students watching a slideshow…all heads turned.  With an embarrassed smile I excused myself.  I couldn’t help thinking…”Where are all the welcoming drinks and snacks”.  Thus, I leaned my translation mistake…this was a course on bee keeping, not an open house.  Oops!

Suddenly from around the corner came a friendly face.  Smiling, I explained how I must have read their poster incorrectly, that I was an American photographer living in the village and I would love to learn more about the bees and perhaps capture some photos.
With a big warm smile, she quickly dressed in her protective suit and gauze covered hat and led me into the “Hive House”.  This large metal pre-fabricated building with an entire wall of windows and a low slit spanning it’s length for the bees to travel in and out on their daily collections.  Inside were about 8 large hive boxes buzzing with life.

It was explained to me, that these hives were the property of some people new to bee keeping (those folks in the class) and before they can move their bees to their private lands they had to complete the course being offered and even then the hives must be kept here for a period time.  Everything is very regulated here in Germany but it was interesting to me to discover even been keeping is a pretty big process.

As a child I was attacked by a swarm of bees when on a hike a fellow camp goer unknowingly tread upon a nest.  Sending the angry bees into the air to protect their hive.  A frightening experience that affected me for many years until my parents moved to West Virginia, where a neighbor who kept bees shared with me his love of bees.  It helped me to be less afraid of the creatures, but never did I think I would ever be capable of what came next.

As I readied my camera and asked questions at high speeds trying to take my mind off what was happening around me, the bee keeper began to open the hives.  The air was electric with the buzzing of the copious amount of bees, wondering what was going on.    Strangely empowered and insulated by watching the scene through my lens, I keep concentration on setting the light and focus.   Attempting to capture the gold light which filled the room cast by the glow of the honey combs being held up to the light of the window.

Once outside, I asked why it was safe for me dressed in nothing but thin cotton to be inside with the loose bees.  The giggling director  of the center explained in a rather plain manner, “the weather is calm so the bees are too…now if it had been raining”.

I hope you enjoy the images from this amazingly empowering day.  It always amazes me how when we face what we believe to be our worst fears…we are in someway lighter!

“OH LAURA, you are so lucky” is something I hear a lot from people.  I do live a blessed life and I appreciate each moment, but I propose this question to you…is it luck or is it planning and preparation that make for a good shot?  In my gut I believe it is a little bit of both, but if you aren’t prepared and have your camera at the ready…all the luck in the world isn’t going to get you that shot.

I am sure for most people not infected with the “photography disease”, my camera, many times multiple  cameras,  constantly slung at the ready around my neck may seem a tad overboard.   In my defense,  after  many years of seeing shots and never having the camera prepared , “Locked and loaded” as I like to joke and missing great images.   I trained myself to prepare my camera each morning as I would any other piece of my clothing.  PLUS, I got sick of hearing my husband whisper sarcastically, “A REAL photographer would have had their camera with them” when I would scream in frustration about missing a shot.

Life is all about  the learning…and I am sure learning a lot.  I thought perhaps in this blog I would share with you my thoughts on “Getting the Shot”…or in the least talk about my methods to finding shots daily.  My life these days affords me the ability to get out and shoot daily and I have made a conscious effort to schedule photography as a major part of my day.  Starting a new skill or a new business is like that, it must become your priority…and for me sharing my view on the world with others is my number one passion.

Each morning while answering my emails I am keenly aware of what is happening outside my window.   Wondering what adventures the day may provide, OR if the dreaded result of the viewing is a day of domesticity (BLECK).  Normally I receive an email within a few hours of waking from either my husband or a friend telling me of a great sunrise or unexpected frost or snow.  With this information in hand I then plot my days walk.  This is a good suggestion, get your friends and family excited about being your personal weather reporter, especially if you are nut an early riser.  Sometimes it may take several walks to encapsulate the day, I may begin in the forest and end in the vineyards…like I did yesterday.

On a foggy day, I might search out  old buildings or ruins…with hoar frost or frozen fog, I will walk the tree farms with their symmetry and open spaces which optimize the capture of the frost on their skeletal branches.   This kind of local knowledge of where you are shooting is very important.  If you are traveling and shooting in a foreign location, start speaking to the people on the street.  I am always amazed at how many people stop and share with me great secrets of a place as well as the impending weather.  And all this knowledge is free….it may cost you a little time or a cup of coffee, but I can trust you, your imagery and your soul will be enriched by the experience.

As an example, I often see a particular farmer and his Jack Russell in the fields while I am walking.  One day I lost the sun shield for my lens in a muddy field  and had spent an hour or more looking.  Along came this farmer and his dog…so I smiled, the dogs sniffed, (I am always companioned by my dog Clover) and I mentioned to this farmer about a round black plastic piece that I lost from my camera.  He nodded, pointed at the vast fields and their thick chocolate mud and did a very easily translated shoulder shrug….I believe it was something like “fat chance”.  Many months later, I again came upon the duo walking…The farmer waved me over and said, “Your the girl with the camera…I found your part. Took me 14 days, but I found it”.  I was flabbergasted…of course it was that exact day I broke down and had ordered a new ring, but a replacement is always good.  I can tell you this, that elderly gentleman had a surprise basket of typical American chocolate chip cookies to enjoy on Christmas morning, supplied by me and my sidekick.

But back to the subject, about being prepared.  Some great advice I received when I moved to Belgium (a beautiful country but a wet one), was to keep an umbrella by the door and never be intimidated by the weather.  I have followed that advice to the letter by dressing  appropriately, certainly not fashionably,  and it really makes all the difference.  Just like your camera gear, your outer wear should also be up to snuff.  As with lens’ it is worth picking up some quality clothes to keep you dry in the field.  I received a pair of gore-tex trekking pants from REI for Christmas and fell in love with them first time out so I invested in  3 pairs which I switch out daily.   I wear them so much my dog recognizes the sound the pants make when I walk as the “WALK” signal.  I believe in my heart no outdoor photographer should be with out a waterproof layer.

With that said, remember to get out and walk your area.  I always tell people to pretend they are going to bring someone from another country along on their wander so search out those texture filled places, back alley, crumbling buildings or clean modern cityscapes.  Become an expert on your area.  I have an added bonus that I normally only live a few years in any place so I KNOW I don’t have the luxury to put off my wandering.  Perhaps that is a good motivator, pretend you only have a short time in that particular location…what is it story, how can you tell the viewer something about the place through imagery.

Well, the light is changing here and I don’t want to miss it.  I will leave you with these thoughts, I hope they inspired you as talking with you  has inspired me.  Most of all, remember to make time to get out and shoot.  It is a great way to burn calories on the cheap and lift your spirits by opening your eyes to the beauty that surrounds all of us.

After many years as an Illustrator, I have recently discovered my true passion actually existed in the images I created with my camera on my daily walks and not as photo reference for later works.

My life seemed to fall into place with the addition of a fluffy Wheaten Terrier and a Canon 30D.  Don’t get me wrong, I have always had a wonderfully creative life, afforded to me by my quiet and caring husband, but those two ingredients were what seem to be missing from my life’s bread.

Currently living in a 2000 year old village, at the foothills of what the Germans call the Castle Road and the very edge of the Odenwald Nation forest.  I have been blessed with a wonderfully diverse landscape in which to hone my skills.  Each morning I wake full of anticipation of what Mother Nature will provide me in the way of inspiration.

I wish to bring you along on this journey, should you choose to join me…make sure you have good walking shoes and an open heart.

Come on a long now…what I want to share with you is just around the next corner.