This post is an expansion of my previous post about the compulsion to click the shutter.
Much of the inspiration for this post came from a friend who last year went to London for the first time. She made a big deal about the airplanes and hotels, but I was able to help plan a trip that kept everything in budget, supply ideas, from experience, and the whole trip turned out exceptional. She described this trip as once in a lifetime. I disagreed. My thoughts are – if you can save and plan for a trip in 6 months once, you can do it again. Especially for a place that (normally) has a very well connected airport. In the last week, I found out that she is planning another trip to London and the UK, once it is possible again of course.
For most locations, you will get another chance to return. This new chance can even be in the same conditions.
While there are some situations this does not apply to, there will be another fall, there will be another sunset, there will be another full moon. The aurora can be quite unpredictable, but there will be another aurora. Outside of certain once in a lifetime trips, you can get another chance.
Let’s look at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. I’ve been lucky enough to make three trips over the last few years. Let’s look at 3 very different photos, one from each trip.
My most recent trip was only a few months ago, and it was by far the most time I’ve spent in the park. But if you like a place as much as I (and now also my girlfriend) like Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks, you can make it there. I was even able to safely travel, by airplane, during the current trouble with the COVIDs.
The importance of this is so that you can relax and be in the moment, instead of worry that this will be the only time in your life to ever get a shot like this. The next time you get to visit a location, which may be several years later, your photography will have improved.
(2021 update – due to a site update, the gallery has broken)
An example. Sydney Australia, 2002, Olympus D450 (1.3 mpix) vs 2016, Nikon D750 (24 mpix).
As the crow flies, Sydney is about as far from home as I can go. You can always return.
-Brad