There was a time when I regularly went out photographing with other photographers. Sometimes during workshops, sometimes with friends and sometimes simply on a spontaneous trip. Travelling together, discussing photography, discovering new locations and waiting for the right light all felt completely natural.
For a long time, I believed that part of my life would eventually return. I assumed it was only a matter of time before going out with others would once again become something I could do without much thought.
Over the years, however, my health has had an increasing impact on those plans. My energy can vary from day to day, and sometimes I only know shortly before leaving whether I am actually able to go.
That makes arranging things more complicated than it used to be.
Not only for me, but also for the people around me. I do not want to be the person who has to cancel at the last minute because physically it simply is not possible.
Missing It, Yet Appreciating the Quiet
Even so, it can still be confronting at times.
When I see photographers sharing a beautiful sunrise, chasing thunderstorms or enjoying dramatic skies together, something inside me responds to that.
It reminds me of a time when those experiences felt normal to me as well. Sharing ideas, learning from each other, exploring new locations and creating memories along the way are things I still miss from time to time.
At the same time, photographing alone has given me something valuable.
It offers more peace, fewer stimuli and more control over my own pace. With my health, that balance has become increasingly important.
Because of that, there is sometimes a strange contradiction. I miss photographing together, yet I also know that working alone often suits my current circumstances better.
Change Without Letting Go
Perhaps that is simply part of change.
Not everything you miss has to be purely sad. Sometimes you can miss something while also understanding why it has changed.
My passion for landscape photography certainly has not disappeared. My mind is still full of ideas, locations and plans. The difference is that I have learned that not every wish needs to be fulfilled immediately.
Some dreams can simply wait.
Staying Connected
What I am gradually discovering is that connection does not always require being physically present with someone on a location.
It can be a conversation about photography, sharing an image or receiving a message from someone who tells you that a landscape reminded them of you.
They may seem like small things, but they remind me that a shared passion does not disappear when circumstances change.
And perhaps that is what photography continues to be for me: a way to stay connected with nature, with other people and with a part of myself.
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View more photos via the link, which, like this one, are part of my portfolio.