[LargeFormat] The Lost (Photo) Weekend

[Ronald Schilling]

The Fall Color thread has prompted me to relate my story of a 
photographic weekend that didn't quite happen.

The setup:
My wife and I wanted to go to Swallow Falls State Park (Maryland) on the 
weekend of Oct. 11th but because nearby Oakland, MD has their Autumn 
Glory Festival that weekend, we decided to avoid the crowds and go on 
September 26th through 29th.

Day one:
Stopped at Sideling Hill Visitor Center to view the cut where the road 
goes through the hill. 
(http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/sidelinghill.html) Took 
some pictures there with the small cameras (35 mm) but not with the 4 X 
5 camera--time constraints. Lost opportunity number one.

Day two:
After a good night's sleep at Swallow Falls, we went out with a minimum 
of photo gear to visit a favorite spot without too much intrusion from 
photography. Just wanted to experience the place. Nice misty morning 
just right for good pictures. Lost opportunity number two.

Day three:
After a rainy night we went out hiking with the 4 X 5 but nothing seemed 
to come together photograph-wise. The falls were big and not very 
photogenic or the sun would come out of the clouds and the light range 
was more than the 4 or 5 stops I would have liked. I was wishing I had 
taken the 4 X 5 on day two when the photo opportunities were there! Took 
two pictures of fungus and ferns, one of which is bad because I forgot 
to stop down the lens!

Day four:
Returned home. Missed opportunities and regrets.

Anybody ever had a photographic experience they were looking forward to 
only to have it not come together? Ever put aside photography just to 
experience a place?