Root Creek

The shot that almost Killed me

The morning was quiet, except for the rush of water echoing through the canyon. After hours of hiking, I finally reached the waterfall—a towering cascade tumbling down jagged cliffs. But trees obstructed the perfect shot. To get it, I needed to climb higher, along the slick canyon wall.

The rocks were treacherous, and more than once, I nearly lost my balance. The drop below was steep, and I questioned if the shot was worth it. But I kept pushing, heart racing, until I found the perfect vantage point.

I steadied myself, took the photo, and for a moment, everything was still. The risk had paid off. But I had still had to make it out.

As I climbed out, heart racing, there was one step, where as I put all my weight onto one leg, I could feel the earth start to crumble beneath me. I tried to transfer my weight to my other leg as fast as possible. As I took that step, the ground crumbled behind me leaving a gaping hole on the ledge I just walked on. A second later and I would have fallen down the canyon. 

As I hiked out I realized that this was a metaphor for life. We can settle for the safe, obstructed view, or we can take the risk to capture something extraordinary. Sometimes, the reward only comes when you dare to push beyond fear.

Life, like photography, rewards the bold.