Timing is everything.

“Anyone who’s ever missed their shot by a fraction of second understands why timing is so crucial in photography. Today, the Colorado Department of Transportation closed the Mount Evans road, Highway 5, and will not reopen it until spring.”

That was the email I received on Thursday. I was scheduled to be on Mt. Goliath (near Mt. Evans) in a photography workshop. But the workshop was moved to Denver Botanic Gardens. It’s not all bad. Look on the bright side: At least I wouldn’t have to drive 2 hours into the mountains then hike at 11,000 feet elevation.

Okay, I am disappointed. But…Timing is everything.

The workshop, taught by Scott Dressel-Martin, was 5 hours of useful technical tips and creative tricks. Scott is the official Denver Botanic Gardens photographer, so you know he has  insight into shooting at this location.

The night before the workshop the Gardens hosted guest speaker and nature photographer Cedric Pollet. Pollet spent years (like 10 years) traveling the world photographing bark.

Yes, bark.

He was out in the Gardens photographing bark when he was invited to join our workshop for a Q & A session. Oh, he did more than that…he went walking in the Gardens with us, pointing out fascinating bark, showing off his technique and generally speaking in broken English with a French accent.  (I am not complaining about the French accent!)

Timing is everything.

If it had not snowed on Mt. Evans, we wouldn’t have relocated to the Gardens, and we wouldn’t have had the pleasure of meeting this talented nature photographer. It was a rare treat. Even more inspirational is the fact that he is a self-taught photographer. No formal school training here. He has learned it by trial and error.

Remember I asked a while back if I could make a living at photographing bugs? Well, if Pollet can make a living at photographing bark….there is hope for me yet!

Of course, Pollet wasn’t the only talent in our mist. Scott was an awesome speaker and teacher choked full of valuable information. And he could talk for days about photography if we let him. I like the light coming through the inside of the flower. It looks like it is glowing; but I really need to stop being so lazy and use a tripod!

The one draw back of the workshop was there wasn’t as much shooting time as I had hoped for. So, Monday is a free day at the Gardens. I plan to go back and hone my skills using some of the tricks Scott has taught me.