Reframing my pictures identification – Discover Landscapes

It’s been a few months since I final posted on Substack, and I’m making an attempt to get myself again into writing mode.

This writing hiatus was triggered by, 1) having means an excessive amount of day-job work competing for time on my schedule, however in all probability extra attributed to 2), dropping my pictures mojo.

I’d like to speak a bit concerning the latter. I’ve been main panorama pictures workshops in Joshua Tree National Park since January 2021. This was my ardour venture, my side-gig, and one thing that I hoped would develop and grow to be one thing that I might transition to from my company day job. I might then have this ‘bridge’ right into a delayed retirement whereas I continued to run workshops.

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Sadly, because of the modifications that the NPS have made to the foundations (restrictions) positioned on working workshops in Joshua Tree National Park, I made the troublesome choice to cancel all of my workshops scheduled in 2026 and haven’t renewed my NPS workshop CUA allow. I wrote about these restrictions within the submit beneath:

“Half the park is after dark” … so long as you {photograph} it from the parking zone!

What I wasn’t anticipating was how arduous stopping the workshops would hit me. After 5 years of workshops (that I actually loved) I ‘identified’ as a panorama pictures workshop teacher. It was who I used to be. It was what I did.

For the previous couple of years I had been spending 3 weekends a month in Joshua Tree main workshops and/or volunteering for the Desert Institute. My life revolved round spending a number of time in JT, educating panorama pictures, and mountaineering and backpacking.

Identity, and by that I imply what I see myself as, i.e. what I do for a residing, is one thing that’s deeply rooted. I used to be, and nonetheless consider myself as, a panorama pictures workshop teacher. But I’m not. Because I ended doing that 3 months in the past.

Switching off that identification so immediately, like a lightbulb change, was abrupt. There was no easing myself into it. It was a matter of only a few weeks from advertising/reserving workshops to stopping. As a consequence, my pictures motivation fell of a cliff. So far in 2026, time spent on pictures has been zero. Nothing. Nada.

I’ve realized that I have to reframe my pictures identification. Reinvent myself. Reignite my pictures mojo and begin photographing for myself once more.

It’s not the primary time that I’ve reinvented myself. I spent 25 years working as an aeronautical engineer and program supervisor earlier than pivoting to grow to be the writer of an aviation business journal. After that I pivoted once more to get into aviation B2B advertising (a area that I nonetheless work in right now).

I’m volunteering subsequent weekend in JT for a weekend geology class (I’ll be writing about that I’m certain), and am hoping that can get me motivated once more. I’m going to be taking my cameras with me (in fact).

I’m wanting ahead to a wholesome dose of desert silence, area, and solitude.

I’ve some concepts for a private pictures venture (particularly utilizing the Mamiya RZ67 for B&W), and can carve out a while to shoot some movie.

Another optimistic is that I’m delighted to be main the Capturing the Desert: Landscape Photography Weekend Workshop on behalf of the Desert Institute at Joshua Tree National Park Association in April. You’ll discover particulars concerning the workshop beneath.

Thanks for being a part of my pictures neighborhood. I respect you!

I’m delighted to be main this panorama pictures weekend workshop on behalf of the Desert Institute at Joshua Tree National Park Association.

Whether you’re a newbie or trying to refine your abilities, this workshop’s pleasant environment encourages creativity and collaboration. Discover the fantastic thing about pictures in a supportive setting, and depart with contemporary strategies and new mates.

The workshop will cowl taking pictures in guide mode, the publicity triangle, utilizing the histogram to make sure optimum publicity, publicity bracketing, focus bracketing, panoramas, taking pictures in RAW, white stability and coloration temperature, understanding focus and depth of area, and composition strategies.

• This area workshop takes place on the non-public NPS Lost Horse Campground in Joshua Tree National Park.

• The workshop is good for photographers trying to hone their panorama pictures abilities.

• Entry to Joshua Tree National Park just isn’t included in the price of enrollment. Visit recreation.gov or a customer middle to buy your cross forward of time.

• No meals or tools are supplied. Participants are liable for bringing applicable pictures and tenting tools.

For full particulars (together with lists of beneficial pictures, mountaineering, and tenting tools for the weekend), please click on on the hyperlink beneath, and ebook your spot.

Grab my workshop spot!

Here are a number of of my posts that you simply may be fascinated with studying:

Big Horn Sheep and the Lost Horse

Making the Move to Manual

Hiking the Mastodon Peak and Mine Loop

Interesting musings, pictures, and artwork from others: