Hello Reader !

I ate my sandwich in an outhouse.

Why on earth would I do that?

Let me back up.

On this particular morning, I dragged myself out of a perfectly warm sleeping bag at 4 a.m. and started hiking through pitch-black wilderness toward my target location five miles away.

But here's what I didn't know... what the weather forecast conveniently failed to mention... was that a massive thunderstorm was tracking maybe two hours behind me.

Closing the gap with every step I took.

That little detail didn't reveal itself until I finally reached the rocky coastline of Lake Superior.

Along the way, as the faintest whisper of morning light started bleeding through the dense forest, I stumbled onto something beautiful.

A leading line created naturally by the trail itself.

Strong.

Inviting.

Pulling your eye exactly where I wanted it to go... straight into the heart of the frame.

I dialed in, with my Nikon Z8 + 20mm: | f/11 | 1/60 | ISO 1600

Once I reached my carefully planned destination right on the lake's edge, I glanced up at the sky.

And the sky immediately told me everything I needed to know.

No epic sunrise happening today.

Not even close.

But you know what?

That was completely fine.

What I created instead turned out to be far more dramatic than any standard sunrise could've delivered.

I'm obsessed with that strong leading line...

...the cliff edge slicing through the composition and pulling your eye directly into the middle of the frame.

That naturally green lake bottom adds mystery and draws you in before your brain even registers the ominous sky looming above.

And those clouds?

Oh, those clouds were magnificent.

Absolutely perfect.

They give you a visceral sense of exactly what I was feeling standing on that exposed shoreline.

Well... maybe not exactly what I was feeling, which was mounting terror as the winds picked up and pushed that storm directly toward my face while I still had five miles to hike back.

Would I make it before it unleashed?

But the clouds give the image critical context.

Deep. Dark. Moody. Threatening.

I leaned hard into that atmosphere while editing in Lightroom later.

At this point, I faced a choice.

Turn around and retrace the five miles I'd just hiked...

...or continue the full loop in the opposite direction, which was actually longer but would give me different scenery.

I chose the longer route.

And I'm genuinely glad I did.

Mostly because of what was waiting for me just around the next bend.

As I rounded that corner with the wind picking up and the first raindrops starting to spit, I stumbled onto one of my absolute favorite images from the entire multi-day trip.

Not planned.

Not scouted.

Not expected.

Sometimes the best photographs really do materialize out of nowhere when you're least prepared for them.

Leading lines pulling you through the frame.

Rich greens in the vegetation. Deep blues in the water.

Warm orange and yellow tones fighting through the storm clouds.

And just enough drama overhead to lift your eyes straight into that threatening sky.

That soft glow from the sun desperately trying to break through?

It pulls you in even deeper.

A few minutes later... the sky opened up.

No umbrella packed.

No rain jacket in my bag.

No luck whatsoever.

The storm arrived with force.

I ran for it.

Sprinting down that trail with my backpack bouncing against me, scanning desperately for any kind of shelter that would keep my equipment from getting completely drenched.

The first structure I spotted?

An outhouse.

Not glamorous.

Not comfortable.

Not remotely pleasant.

But infinitely better than watching thousands of dollars of camera gear turn into expensive paperweights.

I ducked inside and caught my breath.

And then my stomach reminded me I'd been hiking for hours.

I was starving.

So I pulled out my pre-packed sandwich, leaned against the wall of that tiny outhouse while rain hammered the roof, and made the absolute best of an absurd situation.

Sometimes photography takes you to breathtaking vistas.

Sometimes it takes you to... well... an outhouse lunch break during a thunderstorm.

End of story.

This stays between you and me, right?

​
Have an awesome day!

Chris Parker

Parker Photographic

P.S.

Tired of second-guessing your shots and feeling stuck in the same creative rut?

PhotoMation isn't like other photography groups.

No cookie-cutter advice. No judgment. No walking the path alone.

It's a community of everyday photographers who mentor each other... challenge each other... and actually care about your progress.

You'll get clear photo tips that make sense, honest feedback that helps you grow, and a place where your creativity and your voice truly matter.

Not sure if it's for you?

​Take a sneak peek inside PhotoMation right here.​

See what we're all about... then decide if it feels like the right fit.

269 WALKER ST V5718, Detroit, Michigan 48207-4258
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​