I often succumb to the temptation to sit inside and watch videos of photographers rather than going out with my camera and actually taking pictures myself. A video by YouTube photographer Thomas Heaton reminded me of the expression “f/8 and be there.” The expression is attributed to the photographer Weegee. It is most often used in documentary photography emphasizing the importance of being there and simply capturing the moment, over worrying too much about perfect technique. For me, however the phrase is similar to the quote attributed to Wayne Gretzky “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
The most important thing for me to do photography, and seemingly one of the hardest things for me to do is simply grabbing my camera equipment and heading out with the intention to take pictures.
So, motivated by that spirit I headed out Sunday afternoon to the tiny village of Cardinal, Manitoba, whose population may reach the double digits. It is home to the Ste. Therese Chapel, a restored old, prairie, Catholic Church. It is currently more of a museum piece than home to a parish. I also stopped and caught a few pics along the way.
(Thanks to Jolene at Pembina Valley Go for making me aware of this chapel.)
Along the way I drove through a large windfarm. I was particularly struck by the patterns in the field. I wish I could have made the windmills “pop” a little more.
Also along the way I stopped in Miami to capture some pics of their historic train station.
The Ste. Therese Chapel has a very impressive spire. The church faces north, which means the face of the church is mostly in shadow which is less than ideal.
I really liked the spire/bell tower.
Saint Therese of Liseaux was a 19th Carmelite sister also known as the Little Flower of Jesus. She is renown for her spirituality of the little way, or simple way of a life of doing little acts of love.
The simple rose window of the chapel. There is something about the presence of the ladder that I really enjoy in this picture.
On the way home I saw this empty road in my rearview mirror and needed to stop for the shot. f/8 and be there!