memory

At about 2pm on Christmas Eve I had a sudden urge.

No, calm down!

I felt a need to get out of the house and take some photographs.  The weather forecast was promising: heavy showers interspersed with cloudy but broken skies meaning that an interesting sunset was possible.  Also, being December the sun was due to go down at around 4pm so not too long to wait.

I drove to one of my favourite spots near home (Limeslade Bay near the Mumbles) and sat in the car waiting for the perfect conditions.  

After a particularly heavy shower the skies partially cleared and with the sun approaching the horizon it was time to get out of the car and set up.

I only brought my camera and tripod.  No filters, no remote release (though I wish I had brought this) no gizmos to enhance my picture.  It was just the light, my camera and me.  It was however at this precise time that I realised I had completely forgotten how to take a photograph!  I couldn't for the life of me remember how my camera even worked.

I panicked.  

Forcing myself to think logically, and not wanting to set the camera to automatic mode I went through the controls on my Nikon setting each one and then moving on.  In the end I got my picture.  I had triumphed over amnesia - but not after a very real fright.

All that was left was to remember how the hell to get home....