It was a normal evening of working with our horse after my husband was done with work. He was riding, and I was spectating, around mostly in case of an emergency. The sun had started to set, and with it came beautiful hues that backlit my husband atop our Quarter Horse. Being the photographer that I am, of course I love a good cowboy silhouette with a setting sun, and being the normal human being that I am, of course I didn’t take my camera out with me while we worked our horse.

If you’ve read my other blog posts, you’ll know I have mixed feelings about whether to capture the moment or experience it, but this time was different. It wasn’t something to experience. I didn’t come across some grand landscape that left my mouth agape, I wasn’t enjoying an activity with loved ones, I wasn’t driving. I was simply standing, watching. And I happened to notice it would make a great photo. If I hadn’t gone to grab my camera, I wouldn’t have done any “experiencing,” only regretting. I would have stood there and watched the moment pass, kicking myself instead of enjoying the moment because the moment wasn’t anything to enjoy. It was a boring part of everyday life (which don’t get me wrong, those should be enjoyed, there’s a reason Norman Rockwell is famous, but this was more of a lesson, something I just had to be there for, not something to experience).

Photos taken 2023

I took a few photos on my phone and realized this was a night I needed my camera for. An iPhone photo wasn’t going to cut it this time. I called out to my husband in a hurry, asking if I should go grab my camera. Why I asked him when I knew I should just go get it anyway, I don’t know. Maybe I wanted someone to tell me not to bother, that it wasn’t that big of a deal, and just let it be. I wanted a good excuse not to run all the way back to the house just for a mere minute of precious time.

He said no, I shouldn’t go grab it. And here is where I tell you not to listen to people who discourage you from being creative. Don’t listen to those telling you not to do what you deep-down desire. Don’t let people decide for you.

I had about twenty seconds to decide whether I would go back and grab my camera, or else the moment would pass because sunsets are like that. I had twenty seconds to decide whether to listen to my husband who had told me not to bother, or listen to my creative instincts that told me a masterpiece was in the making.

If you couldn’t tell by now, I chose the latter. I ran, breathless, to the house, grabbed my camera, and shot myself back outside. I couldn’t breathe, but the photos were worth it. I was incredibly glad about what I had done and very excited about how the photos would turn out. I was excited, happy, in my element. And then I realized something was missing, something that would really top it all off.

The silhouette of a man atop a horse is one thing, but add a cowboy hat and it takes it to the next level. I don’t even remember if I asked this time, but if I had, it was half hearted, and I ran back in the house for the second time. The sun was setting, and I was running out of time, but I made it back to the pasture with minutes to spare.

One of those photos is now the Chosen One to adorn my phone case, and those photos are some of my absolute favorites. I plan to recreate the whole photoshoot, putting a lot more time and thought into it, and see what more incredible things I can come up with because that was stellar. And I knew it would be. And I am proud of myself for listening to my instincts and taking advantage of those twenty seconds.

~ Anna C. Photography

The point I’m getting at is I had nothing to lose by grabbing my camera, and everything to lose by NOT grabbing it.

And the other point I’m trying to make is don’t let the moment pass by before your eyes because you only have seconds to decide and someone told you no and you’re too scared or indecisive to make a move.

Don’t let that girl slip out of your hands because you caught a frog in your throat as you passed her on the street and couldn’t get out a “hello” or manage to ask her out. Don’t let your opinion go unheard because you’re intimidated by someone else’s confidence and you have seconds before they walk away or the meeting ends and everyone is left thinking you share the same opinion as them because you never spoke up.

Of course, my husband wasn’t intentionally telling me not to be creative. In his mind, of course it wasn’t worth it, nor did he particularly care. It was just another sunset to him, and he was focused on riding. But it did teach me a lesson, and one I hope can help you out one day. Don’t let people stop you from doing what it is you really want to do because you’re too afraid to take control of your own life. Stick up for yourself and just take that risk. What have you got to lose? What will you be missing out on if you decide to let the twenty seconds pass into minutes, and before you know it, your window of opportunity is closed? Sunsets don’t last forever. In fact, they go by faster than you initially realize.