Patience, or the Lack There of…
I have a short fuse.
It’s not something I’m particularly proud of, and I’m doing much better, thank you. But like I said in an earlier post, I would love hood-mounted rocket launchers. And I’d use them, which is probably why the DMV has yet to grant my request for the license required.
This image is the perfect example of said short fuse. Not one of my finest moments, and the worst part was I had a witness to the absurd behavior that took place. My wife and I were up on this parapet thing on the Prague Castle, overlooking a rather pleasant scene. When we turned to leave, I noticed this scene, and instantly knew that for it to have any impact, it needed the perfect subject, walking perfectly through it.
And so it began.

In addition to the short fuse, I’m also very, very stubborn, especially when I know what I want, and this is what I wanted. This lone gentleman, wearing a suit and not Bermuda shorts with sandals and socks, walking by himself, through this arch. Not too much to ask for, right?
Now, I don’t know if Ansel cursed the clouds while he waited for the perfect light to hit Half Dome, but I’d like to think he might have. If only because it might, in some small way, justify my behavior during the time I had to wait for the above gentleman, and he alone, to walk through my scene. But even then.







November 23rd, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Worth the wait… that magic moment. It makes all the difference and it can be tough to have the foresight to know what one wants and then the patience and determination to carry it out.
November 24th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
it was worth waiting, you learned some patience and got something in return, i don’t think you lost, great shot, how long did you wait? some people wait days/months/years for the perfect moment.
November 25th, 2007 at 1:35 am
Patience is an interesting element of our psychological make-up. To what degree one possesses it, or not being affected by behaviour and external circumstances. There are not many around who have the patience of Job especially operating a medium that is more inclined toward the brief chance encounter of light and space, then some more if a human is included. How long you wait has as much impact on these variables as they themselves have on your patience. The light is never the same, the space is affected by the light etc etc and then the likelihood that Kafka will walk through your sights… not sure my behaviour would be exemplary either.
But you got the shot, and I believe, in this instance the end justifies the means.
November 25th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
Beautiful Garrison…like a still from the Third Man or some other such classic….well worth the wait!
November 26th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Indeed, worth the wait. Almost positive i can hear the theme song from The Third Man tv show softly playing.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Wow - what a great shot! Love it!
December 3rd, 2007 at 4:18 pm
while I’m sure people I’m traveling with probably find it annoying, I don’t think you can really get to the next level as a photographer unless you develop some catlike hunting behavior. diehard patience with ability to pounce on the second.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Wonderful result. Great one.