Stress buster

After spending an agonizingly long week waiting to shoot my camera, it was finally the weekend. I needed to shoot something. Anything. I spent some time on Friday night trying to figure out what my weekend assignment would be. When I finally came up with it, the feeling was bitter-sweet. Shooting the island lighthouse at sunrise. That would mean getting out of bed when it was still dark, well below freezing and walking to the desolate tip if the island alone. Well, no guts, no glory, right? Right.

I can clearly remember swearing and blowing into my hands in vain trying to warm them. I was still struggling to frame my shot and set up the tripod. My fingers were numb. The frozen grass was dotted with snow and dog poop. The sun was about to rise and I wasn't ready. Finally with seconds remaining for the sun to rise, I picked an unusual spot to shoot from; under a bare tree. The branches in the frame were unintentional at first, but I decided to keep them. After about 25 minutes of shooting, I returned home and tried to thaw under the sheets.

It is past 2 AM now. The photograph has been processed, posted and praised. And although my fingers are still a little stiff, I can't help but smile when I see the beacon shining back at me through the early morning light. An entire week's worth of stress and sleep deprivation just seems to melt away. I wish I could do this all the time.