I waited all year for this moment. Planning, practice, and preparation all led up to the moment of alignment. As anticipation built, so did the clouds. Little by little, I watched the horizon darken as the sun dropped towards it. Almost everything was perfect, but one variable that night was all it took to throw everything off. There was no sunset that year and I watched in disappointment knowing what lay just behind the clouds was everything I had anticipated all year. That night brought me a gift far more important than the picture itself. It taught me grand expectations can be the root of disappointment. It’s far better to go in with an open mind and be pleasantly surprised. It taught me not become consumed with factors outside my control. You can only do so much to prepare, yet sometimes it’s just not meant to be. Finally, it taught me that the ones worth chasing don’t come easily. If I could capture this shot every day, it would be nowhere near as special as I cherish it now. With new lessons in hand, I waited until the next year. As anticipation built, so did the clouds. The narrative was shaping the same, yet this time there was a small clearing on the horizon. A window of light, open and waiting for the sun. I waited patiently with a smile on my face, until the sun dropped right into the opening at the end of the pier. It was time, and finally my chance to capture it.
