IN THE FIELD: Following My Own Advice
Whenever I am out and about just doing stuff, I always have my camera with me. And there are times when I will drive by a good photo op and say to myself “I should go back and get a shot of that.” But for some silly reason, I don’t. I rationalize that I’ll go back another day.
There is an old farmhouse just outside of town that has been lovingly restored to it’s former glory and converted into office space. It is one of my favorite stone buildings in the area, and this year the owners outdid themselves with their plantings. It’s a beautiful sight from the road seeing all the color in the gardens with the Pennsylvania stone as a backdrop.
And yes, I did drive by this site the other day. And almost decided not to stop. But this time I did. I went inside and asked permission to photograph the gardens and their response was “go right ahead.”
Had I waited until another opportunity presented itself, all these wonderful blooms may have been finished. And then I would have been kicking myself until next summer.
So, my advice is, if you see something worth preserving photographically, don’t wait for another day…it may be too late. Unless you like kicking yourself.
David Heilman 
Oh that first shot is marvelous!!! Love the coneflowers.
Their gardens are real eye-catchers when driving by. I love how they planted the flowers in mass rather than a few plants here and there.
More sound advice I could not give! Murphy`s Law applies just as much to photography as anything else; if you don`t shoot it when you have the chance it probably won`t be there later. And with `film`being a one-time purchase now, why not shoot as often as possible. Thanks for the great photos and advice! Cheers!!
Thanks Steve, no sense procrastinating when as you said, the cost of “film” is so inexpensive one might as well fire away while the opportunity presents itself!
That really is a pretty setting! You’re right and that’s something, not being very bright, I’ve learned many times.
I love the color of that Pennsylvania fieldstone. No matter what tasteful color trim or shutters is used, it always seems just right. Believe me I’ve learned the hard way not to put off until tomorrow what could be photographed today.
what a beautiful house and photograph… Thank you dear David, have a nice day, love, nia
Isn’t it pretty Nia? There are quite a few old farmhouses that were built with this stone in the area. I would love to live in one.
I’m so happy that you decided to stop and take the photos. The building and the flowers are wonderful. I love the stone buildings from your area…the are beautiful.
It really is a nice setting. There are also two barns/garages that have been restored to the same condition as the home. Unfortunately the two enormous maples on the front corners of the home obscure the view for a good photo. I’ll have to wait for fall for those shots.
Your photos should be wonderful when the leaves have changed colors.
It should be glorious!
That’s very good advice. It has happened so many times!
What a pretty place. The hard landscaping and planting complement the house so well.
I know what you mean…shoot it now! The grounds are kept in pristine condition and there is even a short hole for golf in the back yard. This is just the side of the home…there are more garden areas in the back of the home between the other buildings. If it wasn’t so bloody hot and humid that morning (91 degrees at 10:00 am) I would have gotten more photos. It was getting hard to think LOL. When it cools down I’m going to return for more photos.
Great advice! Glad you stopped to capture this gorgeous shot, and even better, to share it with us!
Thanks Fergie, You know me…sharing is what it’s all about. I have to figure out how to get a 3/4 view photo of the front…but there are large electric wires along the street that are right in the middle of the view. I wish they were on the other side of the street then I wouldn’t have to Photoshop them out. Oh well…it is what it is.
I love the field stones in the house and on the path, plus the blooms that add to the colour and texture.oh yes, repeat this in the fall! Just when I don’t have the camera with me…there is something I regret.But it is in my mind’s eye.
I’ll be sure to visit this place throughout the summer and fall. It’s right down the street and I go past it all the time. Funny how that works…no camera/great visual. Like you said “in my mind’s eye.”
Excellent post and advice, David! A beautiful capture too, old stone buildings, bridges, and fence walls fascinate me. I’m glad you went back, thanks for sharing!
Thanks Donna, Even though this place is right on the road, it still has a wonderful setting. I found a better vantage point to get a shot of the whole building…it means a trek out into the field and I’ll have to figure out a way to not include buildings across the street. I love these old places too!
both are beautiful photographs, I love the second perspective a bit more
btw I’m guilty of that (oh I will come back again syndrome) myself – sometimes in places I know I wouldn’t get a chance again in years…one thing I do is take a cell phone or Point and Shoot (if time or excess gear is a constraint) to get something rather than nothing. that approach sometimes leads to more agonizing on the lines of ‘I should have …’
I know exactly what you mean…except for one thing. If I don’t bring the camera, I always have my cell phone with me…but I always forget it has a camera. So as you said ” I should have” is a big part of my vocabulary.
Beautiful photos, and what a lovely garden! I’m glad you took your own advice!
Me too! It is a very “trim” property…I also like the small stones they used along the walkway rather than the typical mulch that is commonly used.
Good advice and a couple of timely captures, David. To reinforce your point, the day AFTER I took the shot for my 7/15 post, they stacked up the stone bridge railings, and the day AFTER I took the shot for my 7/22 post, they cut back the overhanging growth. I walk by both of these areas every day going to work, and I ALMOST missed these shots:
http://thedailygraff.com/2013/07/15/railing-against-his-fate/
http://thedailygraff.com/2013/07/22/why-youll-never-see-a-tidy-forrest/
Apparently when that little voice says “don’t worry, you can get the shot some other time,” we are actually in the right place at the right time! glad you got your photos when you did!
Such a lovely cottage and garden 🙂
It’s a beautiful home…I still need to try for some overall photos…composition will be challenging (background distractions). I love the color of the stone that was used.
I do exactly the same, for some reason I just don’t stop and convince myself I’ll do it later… but sometimes there is no time or chance for ‘later’ 🙂 Such a lovely cottage 🙂 Happy people must live in it 🙂
I think we are all guilty of this from time to time LOL. I met some of the folks there and yes they are happy! I want to get some more photos…good thing it’s close by!