Reach for the Stars

I had to shoot this twice.

There are so many shots that never happened because of logistical difficulties. Sometimes the shot you want requires you to position the camera up a tree or off a cliff. Sometimes the angle you need is too extreme. Sometimes the stars literally don’t align.

This was one of those shots that could work, but not without a lot of trial and error. The first night, I spent hours adjusting and re-adjusting, which resulted in a blurry foreground and a spiral that didn’t align with the upward reaching branch. It’s frustrating to spend so much effort and get nothing in return. It’s easy to feel like the universe is against you, and like trying again is pointless.

I almost didn’t try again.

But not getting it right the first time isn’t a sign of failure. It’s just a sign that you tried. It’s a sign that you exist. The more you try the better you get. And that isn’t just true for taking good photos, it’s true for trying in general.

Keep trying. Keep reaching.