….so here’s what I decided to do!

 

Behind the Scenes Insights

• A fellow from church first told me about 5 Points. He knew I liked photography so when I asked if he could recommend of any nice places around to take pictures, he said I might like this spot.
• A few days later, in a conversation completely unrelated to the first when I asked about places to go for pictures, another local mentioned the exact same place. 5 Points.
• They both said it was a rather wild place and recommended I not go alone. This is generally a good idea whether it’s in a wilderness location or not. Though it’s not always possible, but two are always better than one.
• I did a little online scouting using Google Maps satellite imagery to see if there were any open areas that might offer a nice view in the direction of a sunrise or sunset. I wouldn’t know until I got there if there would be any No Trespassing signs around, but it seemed like there were some cleared areas along the road that might work well.

• These open areas were on south- and east-facing slopes, so I determined morning would be the best time for photography.
• I kept my eye on the weather and eventually worked out a time to head out there with Dan, a friend and local who also enjoys landscape photography.
• We left really early to make it there for sunrise, but thankfully sunrises are late in February and it was only a 45min drive or so.
• We arrived a little later than we were hoping since one of the valley roads was so filled with potholes, and then the road up to 5 Points was so incredibly rutted and steep that it took longer than expected. But we did arrive before sunrise and got to watch the sky turn colors and the sun come up.
• The view from the open area was not as good as I was expecting. The field didn’t open up a clear view to the east and there was another hill in the distance that obstructed the view to the horizon.

So that’s why I decided to go look for another vantage point! And I’m glad I did.

It’s interesting how these photos turned out to be completely opposite of this week’s photo assignment….“pure and clean” to illustrate the hymn, Nothing Between. The view at 5 Points was anything but “nothing between”! May our lives instead be like an unobstructed overlook:

Nothing between, like pride or station;
Self or friends shall not intervene;
Though it may cost me much tribulation,
I am resolved, there’s nothing between.

Refrain:
Nothing between my soul and my Savior,
So that His blessed face may be seen;
Nothing preventing the least of His favor;
Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.

You can submit your own photos for this week’s assignment by tomorrow midnight, March 10, at www.lenspiration.com/pure-and-clean