Acceptance

When the sun sets in Naples, Florida, it’s something of a sacred ritual. Crowds of locals and tourists head to the beach with chairs and blankets to watch the sun dip down into the Gulf — and when the last sliver of the golden orb has disappeared beneath the horizon, everyone applauds the show's finale.

On this particular night, the beach was packed with spring breakers. Throngs of people stood at the water’s edge while others waded knee-deep out into the water. This gave them a prime view of the spectacle – but it also obstructed the view of everyone who was on the beach behind them. That included me, who had my camera mounted on a tripod, hoping to take a few pictures of the setting sun.

Several people noted my predicament and offered their condolences. “Good luck,” one guy said. “I was out here last night and couldn’t get one clear shot of the sunset with all these people in the way.”

I figured I had a choice to make: I could curse the crowds for getting in my way, or I could go with the flow and make them part of the picture. I chose the latter approach, and I believe the pictures are stronger because of it. To me, the silhouetted shapes add a layer of interest and a sense of story to an otherwise lovely but fairly generic sunset.

Once again, photography showed me the value of an important life lesson: It doesn't pay to fret when things don’t go as planned. Our challenge is to work with whatever presents itself, accept it with grace and make the best of the situation.

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