¶I managed to catch this shot after packing up from a Fall shoot on the Maumee River. I had spent an hour or so before sunset tracking some wildlife from the riverbank but didn’t seem to have much luck. It was just one of those days where everything seemed to be in hiding. I was a bit disappointed with the outing, so I packed my gear away and decided to go on a hike of sorts. The water level in the river was quite low, exposing several rocky patches that essentially provided a path from one bank to the other. Neat opportunity to explore an island in the river that’s usually not readily accessible.
¶I got lost in the adventure a bit and didn’t think about the sunset until I was on my way back. It hit me just as I was crossing the river, and I suddenly realized I might be able to get a decent shot after all. I set up right in the middle of the river and started shooting. I noticed the reflection on the water as I looked down at my backpack and decided to capture that. I made a few adjustments and then took a couple of quick shots. I checked the images in camera and remember feeling pretty good about the shots I had captured, noticing this one right away. Then I looked back down at the water and realized the reflection was already gone. It had disappeared as I was checking my shots, literally in a matter of seconds.
¶I love this photograph for several reasons, including its reminders to explore when given the opportunity and to grab the light while you can because it is, indeed, fleeting.