From Sunsets to Expression - In Photography Timing is Everything

Life is all about timing...the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable becomes available, the unattainable...attainable. Have the patience. Wait it out. It's all about timing.
Stacy Charter

Captured with a LUMIX FZ1000 f2.8 @ 1/125 ISO 125

We live south of Sarasota, Florida a mile from Nokomis Beach. I've written about the beautiful sunsets and last week even a sunrise. Well, this summer because of the red tide and thousands of dead fish, we never made it to the beach. Stimulated by man's pollution, the red tide took over the ocean this summer, and while it's usually a couple of weeks, this year it's gone for months. The smell of dead fish up and down our favorite beach takes away from going over there, even to photograph a sunset.

Well, last night after a summer of being absent, I headed over to catch a sunset and missed it! As I got there the sun had already dropped below the horizon. As I walked down the path to the water with a couple of cameras, a couple who was leaving said to me, "You missed the most beautiful sunset by fifteen minutes!"

True, I missed the "main event" but the image above was looking south-east and the sunset was still in its glory. The couple who wanted to let me know what I'd missed, never even looked up as they walked to their car. Then, ten minutes later it was gone, with just a hint of the previous light show. 

Captured with a LUMIX FZ1000 f2.8 @ 1/60

Years ago I wrote an article for PDN, interviewing Kirk Voclain about his work with seniors. One of his secrets is to get them talking about their friends, goals, and dreams. As they relax and talk more, he looks for that sparkle in their eyes when they hit something they genuinely love - *click*, and he starts to get the beautiful expressions his work is known for. 

Joe Buissink talks about the same thing with bridal couples. The engagement session isn't about expanded coverage, but getting to know the couple and they, in turn, get to know him. Building trust and a relationship make him a welcome addition on the wedding day.  At a time that's always chaotic, he's a welcome friend. The couple knows Joe already, and their trust becomes a pivotal ingredient to natural expressions in the images Joe captures to tell their story.

Back in the film days, photographers hung in their longer to make sure they got the shot. Well, digital came along, and a quick chimp and too many people move on. They think they got the shot, but the best one might still be coming!

So, here's my point...timing is everything and together with remembering to stay with a scene to make sure you captured the decisive moment add to the formula for success.