In photography, you can plan everything down to the minute — the gear, the location, the angle, the weather — and still the best shots come from pure luck. You don’t need decades of experience or a professional kit. Sometimes you just need to show up and let the universe surprise you.
This shot was planned, but not for the reason you might think. I had mapped out the Summer Solstice sunrise at West Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Lubec, Maine. I knew exactly where the sun would rise on that day, and I was ready for it. That part was intentional.
What I didn’t plan for was the fog. As the sun came up, the fog began to glow, turning the whole scene into something otherworldly. The lighthouse, the coastline, the early morning quiet — everything was transformed by that soft, luminous fog.
Moments like this remind me that great photos don’t always come from what’s in your camera bag or what you’ve sketched out in your head. Sometimes the magic comes from what the world gives you — and every once in a while, it hands you a gift.
Anyone can capture a beautiful shot. You just have to get out there, explore, and give yourself the chance to be lucky.
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