Paul Lester Photo

Snow Canyon: A beginning

Compromise: A way to ensure that neither party gets what they want!
–Unknown

After my return from New Mexico, I wrote about photographer compatibility. I had discovered that Kate and I were very compatible. We both operate on the same schedule, etc. It was fun.

Now, you’ll see how Richard and I fared over the course of a week. As you’ll see, we are quite different and I must point out that this is NOT a judgment in any way, but more of a learning experience for both of us. Neither is right or wrong in their approach to things, just different.
In reference to the Grand Canyon:

Once you’ve seen one big hole in the ground, you’ve seen them all.
-Richard Polk

We started off sharing a room but, as you can see, we differ in a number of areas. So, after a couple of nights, I asked Richard if he’d mind if we got separate rooms and, being the cool guy that he is, he said, “Cool. That’s no problem.” So, we got rooms next to each other and we could have our own space. By his own admission, he said that he liked the arrangement, as did I. Now, when I came into my room, I had a comfortable, quiet, space to do my reading, or if I wanted to watch TV, I could, or if not, then I wouldn’t. I found out that I’m more than likely not willing to share a room. I need my space.

Richard got ‘cabin fever’ quickly and wanted to, for the most part, spend time out of the room. Who could blame him? Looking back, I would do what we usually do as a family, rent a condo/apartment, or perhaps a house for the week. In this way, we would stay together, each person has their own space, and there is a common area where we can socialize. Also, instead of eating the high less-than-adequate-nutritional-value fast food, we could buy groceries and cook at ‘home’. Richard mentioned that the most difficult part of staying in a hotel room was the lack of different spaces to hang out in.

Where compromise worked well
Now, having mentioned the differences, let me tell you that Richard is a great compromiser. He only went out with me on one morning shoot. He figured that since I liked to get up at 5:00 AM that he’d let me ‘have at it’. Simple solution. I compromised by going out in the afternoon with him to do things. We even went bowling one day. It was a lot of fun and I didn’t do half bad for not having bowled in about 10 years or more: 163-223-167. Had I been by myself, I wouldn’t have done it. I would have been content to wile away the hours reading.

Compromise, where it didn’t work so well.
Where the compromise didn’t work so well was in the particular style of photography. Richard is a type of ‘stick and move’ photographer. He wants to go here and there, only visiting a place once. I would have spent my entire 8 days photographing a local state park, Snow Canyon and never regretted it. That repetition is monotonous for him. I understand that. So, I did my repetition in the morning, photographing Quail Creek Reservoir and Snow Canyon multiple times. I flitted about with him in the afternoon, stopping here and there, Zion included, taking snapshots without a tripod. I can say that I got only a few good shots in Zion or North Rim because I couldn’t spend the time I needed to get a sense of the place, but I do not regret it. I found that I wanted to spend most of my time in the non-tourist areas like Snow Canyon.

Future trips
When asked if he liked Utah and would return, he replied: “It was alright and nope, I wouldn’t return, I’ve already seen it. Now I want to see somewhere else.” For me, I’ve been to Utah 3 times and am willing to return again and again and again. There’s so much to see and I’m not finished with Snow Canyon and haven’t even gotten a chance to start on the far eastern end of Zion, Kolob Canyon.

Well, it only had 200 miles on it when we got it. We returned it with over 1,800!

So, If I were to do it again, I’d probably get a house/condo, rent 2 cars, so each could have their own freedom to do as they please, and get together some time during the day … sometimes. Regarding photography, Richard and I perform at a different level of intensity. Mine is all consuming. His, by his own admission, he looses interest in things quickly, is just another thing for him to do. Now that we understand each other’s ‘way’, we can plan better for future outings. I know that if I were to go on a trip with him, I could suffice with just my D40 and an 18-200mm. That’s it. When I go for myself, I’m loaded for bear!

Still good friends
So, we parted as friends, each having a better understanding of the other, and knowing better what our future travels will bring. We probably won’t go on an intense photography outing, but we will go somewhere.