27 Aug
2012
Posted in: Inspiration, Outdoor Lifestyle, Vermont
By    26 Comments

Photograph a Life Well Lived


Unfortunately there are few events in life that focus your attention on what’s important like the death of a friend, especially when that death means that a seven year old little girl will grow up without her mom and another friend looses his best friend and the love of his life.  As a result I’ve been thinking a lot about what’s important in my life and what legacy I’ll leave behind.  I’ve been stumbling over this post for the past week and each time I sit down to write I either get too choked up or the message gets muddy.  After all, who am I to give some pithy message about life and legacy?

I’m under no delusions that my body of photographic work will play significantly in my legacy, at least not like the masters such as Ansel Adams and Eliot Porter to name just a couple.  After attending my friend’s memorial celebration on what was a stunning Vermont summer afternoon and meeting all of the wonderful people who called this beautiful woman friend, daughter and colleague it became very clear.  Our legacy will be in the relationships and experiences we share with family and friends.  This isn’t any new or cutting edge revelation and has certainly been extolled by countless people before me.  But nonetheless, it’s true and bears remembering as we ply the ever increasingly hectic and distracting waters of daily life in this technological age.

How does all of this relate to photography?  Simple, if you want to make truly exceptional images that have a lasting impact then you’ve got to photograph a life well lived; and to do that you’ve got to first live life well.  So, in no particular order here’s my list of recommendations for living well.  Feel free to try some of these and add your own in the comments below.  Oh, and there’s one caveat, most of these are best done with others…

Jump in a lake as often as you can

Sleep under the stars

Eat more spinach

Eat more ice cream (if you’re gonna eat more spinach then you sure as hell should eat more ice cream)

Hug your kids, grandkids, nieces/nephews, friend’s kids…

Kiss your spouse

Invite friends over for dinner more

Climb a mountain

Ride a bike

See live music

Sit by a campfire

Clean your house less

Say yes more frequently

Avoid starting sentences with “The problem is…” or “You know what drives me crazy…”

Get a pet

Fall asleep in a hammock

Volunteer

Eat more chocolate

Drink wine

 

Here’s a recent shot of my girlfriend from an impromptu hike/run up one of our local mountains.  Well, she’s actually my wife but on a random Wednesday afternoon in the summer while the kids are at the circus with Nana, she’s my girlfriend!  Now quit reading this damn blog and go Live!

Technical Details: Canon 5DII, EF 16-35mm f2.8L II, f11 @ 1/320 sec. ISO 400, 2stop grad ND

About Kurt Budliger (37 Posts)

Kurt Budliger is a full-time professional photographer specializing in landscape, outdoor lifestyle and fly-fishing photography. He is a frequent contributor to Vermont Life Magazine and works with a variety of other editorial and commercial clients throughout the year. His fine art prints of the Vermont and New England landscape can be found in many private collections around the country. Kurt teaches a variety of photography classes throughout the year, both in formal college settings as well as more informal field based workshops.


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26 Comments

  • Mark Waslck August 27, 2012 at 1:01 pm

    Bravo my friend, bravo!

  • Anne Farber August 27, 2012 at 1:29 pm

    Beautifully said, Kurt. And as for your suggestions, I am focusing on the wine and chocolate!

  • John Berninger August 27, 2012 at 4:30 pm

    I will clean my house less and clean my camera more.

    • Kurt Budliger August 28, 2012 at 10:52 am

      Ha, I put clean the house less just so I could feel good about my messy abode. Kind of like putting “make to do list” first on your to do list ;)

  • Andre Distel August 28, 2012 at 8:29 am

    Great list. Hope that we can extend it a bit here:

    - Don’t live to work, work to live

    - Laugh often

    - Teach others

    - Travel and experience

    - Help others

    • Kurt Budliger August 28, 2012 at 10:52 am

      Excellent additions Andre!

  • Ian Plant August 28, 2012 at 8:31 am

    A wonderful post Kurt – a great reminder of what is important.

  • Donna Shoaf August 28, 2012 at 9:27 am

    Enjoyed your post…here are a few of m

    - walk a beach

    - be silent, listen & observe

    - any act of kindness

    - walk a quiet path in the woods

    - read for pleasure

    - visit new places and meet new faces

    - eat breakfast out

    - look at old photos

    • Kurt Budliger August 28, 2012 at 10:53 am

      Very nice additions Donna.

  • Jerry Denham August 28, 2012 at 9:33 am

    Gosh what an incredible post. Every once in a while we all need a jolt of “What’s important” and you just hit the nail right on the head. Thanks Kurt

  • Bill Chambers August 28, 2012 at 11:16 am

    Very nicely spoken Kurt. Yes, it hurts to lose a friend but, as in your case and many others, that loss can inspire others to live even more fruitfully. Thanks for sharing this, and I’m very sorry for your loss.

    • Kurt Budliger August 28, 2012 at 4:24 pm

      Thanks for your comment and sentiment Bill.

  • KG2V August 28, 2012 at 11:22 am

    Smell a flower
    Tell someone you love them
    Help someone who needs it (without their asking)
    Take a nap
    Wear Sunscreen (sorry, couldn’t help myself with that one)
    Pet a cat/dog

  • James hamilton August 28, 2012 at 12:53 pm

    Don’t take life too seriously, you’ll never get out of it alive.

    Have faith in God.

    Treat others well. As a very wise man has told me, people will forget what you have said and what you have done but they will never forget how you have treated them.

    Sympathies for your loss…

    • Kurt Budliger August 28, 2012 at 4:24 pm

      Thanks for your thoughts James.

  • Dan Roeder August 28, 2012 at 4:46 pm

    Honk less, smile more

  • Randy Bronkema August 28, 2012 at 10:24 pm

    Great post, lets all try to simplify life. here one I try to live by ” I may travel half as far but I see twice as much”

    oh and Drink Craft BEER

    Randy

  • Jen August 31, 2012 at 8:38 pm

    That was beautiful! ~thank you~

  • Davida September 1, 2012 at 8:01 am

    Well said neighbor. Do you know what the problem is with neighbors? :) . We’re always available for dinners.

  • Jeff Loomis September 20, 2012 at 2:25 pm

    Great post with some thought-provoking additions too. Here’s a couple more…

    - Watch children play
    - Go to a hawk watch during migration (this might not make sense until you do it)
    - Listen to the ocean with your eyes closed
    - Get up early to watch the sun rise


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