Beauty and Distance

This past spring, I went on a photography trip up along Minnesota’s North Shore just before Memorial Day. The smoky haze from the Canadian wildfires still hung in the air, but I still enjoyed hiking and taking photos. While not the shots that I had envisioned when planning the trip, I still came away with several great shots.

At the end of the trip, I spent a day in Duluth. I awoke before sunrise and walked the half-mile to the Aerial Lift Bridge. The storm from the night before had moved on, but the winds still blew in across the lake. The temperatures were near freezing. I huddled in my coat, frozen fingers setting up the camera.

As the sun peeked over the edge of Lake Superior, I was able to get several shots. Even in the moment, I recognized the beauty of the sunrise. But I also was cold, tired, and hungry for breakfast. I wanted to get out of the wind and back to the hotel. I wasn’t miserable, but I certainly wasn’t enjoying myself.

Even just half a year removed, the negative aspects begin to dull in my memory. I still remember them, but my mind shifts to focus on the more positive aspects: the photos, the enjoyable memories, the chance for a few days of relaxation.

Sometimes having a little distance can help you see the beauty of the world, even during hardships.