Just Another Tequila...ah Sunset

Day 41 - Photo 41. I can't tell you how many times I've seen this. This sunset. This scene. How many times? I'm not sure. But, I've always wanted to shoot it. Yet...I never have, until today.

I guess I've always told myself I'd rather photograph people. What I was really telling myself was, I didn't think I could shoot this. For this project carrying my camera around everyday, everywhere and all the time for the past 41 days has changed something fundamental in the way I look at the world around me. I have allowed working as a professional to take the joy out of photography for me. It was my fault. Not some newspaper's, not the profession and certainly not anyone I've ever worked for. When I felt as though I was suffering from job burn-out, I friend of mine told me. "Make a photo everyday! Make the photo for yourself. It can be about, or of, anything. But, make the photo for yourself." I've paid that suggestion a lot of lip service. I've shared that suggestion with a lot of young photographers. But, I don't think I really understood it. I didn't really get it. Until today.

Before today, I believed that everything was fair game for a photograph. Everything has the potential to end up...well...here on this blog. I believe in all the people and things I've photographed. But, somewhere along the way I made a shift. I started out, to remind myself of something I'd lost...the passion and direction for a craft that's brought me so much. And I've regained a great deal of that. But then it began to become something of a compulsion. An obsession. I like to straighten picture frames too. I really needed to find a photo. I came to 31 days and 31 photos and...well...what about day 32 and photo 32? Straighten out that picture frame. Again...I believe in all the people I've photographed and whose stories I've told. When I saw this photo today, and I know it sounds a bit silly, but, it reminded me of the musically group the Eagles and one of their hits "Tequila Sunrise." Which in turn reminded me of when I first moved to California, which in turn remind me of...and on and on and on and...well, a bunch of really great memories.

I relaxed a bit after making this photo. And once again reminded myself not to take myself so seriously. Enjoy the Tequila Sunrise...ah Sunset...and take a cue from the Eagles.

Don't let the sound of your own wheels
drive you crazy
Lighten up while you still can
don't even try to understand
Just find a place to make your stand
and take it easy