Sometimes the act of getting to a destination is almost as good as the arrival.

As we were making our way to the beach in Melbourne, Fl we took this path to the sea.  Many of the more isolated areas of the beach on either coast have public access areas that are more wild than the groomed areas that you find in more popular tourist areas.

I look for these because it means that the beach is usually less crowded.

As we ventured up this path, I was struck by the many textures, colors and different plantings that were here. Scouting this area was just what I needed to do to ascertain that the area would be suitable when the light was right.

Planning photographs is very important.

Looking for the right spot and then planning on the light and time of day can be crucial in whether an image is ok, good or great.  I came back just before sunset the next night to catch the “golden light” that would make this site perfect.

Not ever envisioning a path to the sea as an image I would consciously seek out, I was pleasantly surprised at how beautiful and lush this area was. All the different textures came together to make a pleasing variation in the image.  Sometimes you will see a strong contrast of light or colors and that difference will make a photograph.  But here, it was the subtleness of the  textures that added the interest the scene needed.

Sometimes the journey is as good as the destination. Remember to enjoy the inspiration along the way.