Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
I was exhausted. And heartbroken. And physically broken.
I had just packed up camp at Great Sand Dunes National Park. It took all of my energy to get the car reloaded and ready for the next part of my trip. As I drove away from that magical place, this scene appeared.
I frantically looked for a safe place to pull over, seeing the scene begin to fade. I was about to miss it. (And I did miss capturing the best of it.)
There was no time to be fussy about camera settings and composition. I had to work quickly. Moments later, this sundog lighting up wispy clouds over the Sangre de Cristos was gone.
It was a bittersweet moment to have such a gorgeous sendoff. I had enjoyed my time at Great Sand Dunes. But it was also gut wrenching to be leaving the place that was crucial in helping me heal and reclaim my life.
And today, almost 11 years later, the feelings are still as vivid and raw as they were that day. That’s amplified by having just marked the eleventh anniversary of the day that bitch couldn’t be bothered to pay attention while driving and nearly killed me.
As far as photography goes, file this one in the its-important-to-know-how-to-work-quickly folder. I was surprised I was able to muster a decent shot under the circumstances.
That’s the power of muscle memory, though. It’s why we need to keep practicing—so we can summon those skills without having to think about every little detail when we’re under pressure to work quickly.
Keep moving forward, friends. Even when the path ahead is hard as fuck.
Bluesky Art Show
This post is inspired by the Bluesky Art Show, a challenge to share artwork surrounding a weekly theme each Saturday.
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