I don’t know what I was thinking with this picture-a-day crap. I’ve never been comfortable with taking pictures on cue, even when I’m the one who’s made the order.

I know there are photographers who can be sent into the forest and an hour later they will emerge with the memory card full of pictures. I’m more likely to emerge with a head full of frustration. I can’t force my inspiration – I don’t know how to explain it, but somehow I need to see the picture before I take it. I can’t just look at something and come up with a way to see it. You know? If I’m put in a situation where I’m expected to take a picture, my photographic brain just ceases to function and suddenly I forget everything I’ve ever learned about photography. I can only take pictures when the process starts from the inside, when I have the genuine will to create an image. So when I’ve told myself that ”ok let’s have at least one picture to show for every day of the holiday”, I’ve effectively deadlocked myself. I’ve gone around thinking must take picture, must take picture. I like it much better when it’s will take picture, will take picture!

Today’s picture is a rock. I drove to my favourite creek, thinking that it’s bound to inspire me like it always has. But maybe it only works in the autumn – I sure didn’t find any of the white water interesting now. Then when I was heading back through the pine forest, I rounded up this rock and got the inspiration I had been looking for. You can see this kind of scenery all over in this region, open pine forest with lichen covered rocks scattered for good measure. It’s barren land where the blueberry brush dominates the forest floor, and cowberries mingle with the lichen and moss. Maybe not a flower photographer’s forest, but I don’t have to see everything through the lens to enjoy it.