On the road again…
Hello… and goodbye.
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No, I’m not going for good. Just for a couple of days. Me and my crew, hitting the highway north.
Recently I drove to our nearest city, some five hours away from Granite Glen. To the place I lived for a decade. I was only there overnight, yet as I drove back out to the edge of suburbia and the traffic spread and the road opened up ahead, I breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly, the city is less alluring than it once was. More suffocating. Funny, how I never noticed it while I lived there. I loved living there then. But not now.
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Now I crave my wide open spaces (cue: Dixie Chicks). My hills and creeks and bush and scrub.
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I am thankful this trip takes us to a less built-up destination. I anticipate this journey with joy and with terror. Joy that my gorgeous, special, amazing cousin Bee is getting married in two days. Terror that I am the wedding photographer. It’s a job I have done before, and done reasonably well. I rarely agree to do it though – it is a job which causes me huge anxiety. And I’m not really an anxious person.
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I worry that the camera will fail, that the batteries will be flat and nothing will happen as I try to click as the bride enters the chapel. That a lens jams. That a flash dies. That a memory card gets wiped. Whinge, whinge, ad nauseum.
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I actually made myself sick with worry the first wedding I ever did. Literally. I vomited violently as soon as the night was over (and no, I only had two chardonnays, I promise). I have only shot about four weddings in my life. I love taking photos, but this is not an event you can reschedule if you stuff it up somehow.
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But I am totally honoured to shoot this particular wedding. Bee is one of my favourite people and she and her fiance have been through a hellish lead-up to their nuptials. After years of drought, rains finally arrived at their cattle property in western Queensland. And it rained, and they smiled. And it rained and they grinned. And it rained and they looked around. It kept raining and the river burst its banks, flooding their cattle, flooding their house, their new kitchen. Not once. Twice. They slept in a corner of a shed for four nights as filthy water swirled through their home, and killed their cattle. They swam a flooded river to check on elderly neighbours.
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They managed to salvage much. They hosed off the filth and got stuck into saving as many cattle as possible. Never complaining. Just focussed on the task at hand. 
She inspires me, this decade-younger woman, so tall and proud and capable. The very least I can do is grab that Nikon and do what I do every day. Without a murmur of complaint.
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Now excuse me – I need to breath into a paper bag!
BB
11 Comments
Andrea
I am kinda like you too!! I go back home to the city and wonder why I ever liked it there. I get mad at the traffic and can’t stand all the crowds of people!! I am so greatful to be out in the country!!
Jenni
Oh goodness! I just know that no matter how much my photography skills improve, I could never do a wedding. Engagement photos, yes; wedding, no. Because you only get one go, and I would most certainly screw something up. I did make my brother’s wedding cake and that freaked me out enough. I was sure I would drop it or that all the little drop strings would fall off or someone would bump it or… I was a mess!
You, however, are a wonderful, talented, professional photographer. Your photos will be stunningly beautiful, and your cousin will treasure them even more since you took them.
They sound like an amazing couple. I wish them all the best.
debby
I’ll be waiting here patiently to hear that the pictures turned out beautifully, as they surely will.
Alison
Gorgeous story. Very inspiring.
Have a great time!
Mama DB
Well, if any of the photos look nearly as well as that first shot you posted, the happy couple will be just that, happy!
I do hope you have a lovely time!
baby~amore'
what a beautiful photo and a beautiful gesture to take their wedding photos.
I am sure you will do an outstanding job.
Best wishes to your cousin and her man.
I love getting out into the country too -except for my lack on internet access LOL
jeanie
Now, young older-sister, I need to take you to task about one thing. It only took you five hours to drive to Big Smoke? How heavy was that foot, eh?
Good luck this weekend. I will be there to whisper encouragement all the way.
Pencil Writer
You WILL do fine! Remember–as from your first rookie assignment, “that which does not break us, strengthens us.” Or something to that effect. I know it’s true!
I’m will jenni. I’ve done 4 wedding cakes. Was pretty much a stress mess, esp. the last one. It was a rainy day. I couldn’t get the icing to stay on the cake. I’ve NEVER had that problem before. And since I do the cakes pro bono–for friends and family–what could they say? However, they were all terribly gracious and sweet. The bride/groom and parents. Ain’t goin’ there no mo’!
I’m looking forward to a photo journal of wedding pics. Best to the Bride and Groom. And to Jeanie and V whenever they get hitched!
BB–You will be fine. Great. Awesome. Breathe. Slowly. Deeply. Smile. Yeah!
Pencil Writer
BB, ever hear of a gentleman by the name of David A. Bednar? I just read in our Church news that he was in Sydney just yesterday (2 April)–your time on a country-wide telecast answering questions from people of all religions. I’ve heard him teach some ABSOLUTELY AWESOME lessons–on learning and teaching. (HE was rencetly the Pres. of BYU Idaho.) But today I found out he comes of Aussie great-great grandparents! I don’t know why I feel such affinity for those of you “down under”, but I do. Now I know one more reason why to think Elder Bednar is so cool!
Bush Babe (of Granite Glen)
Yawn…. stretch… aarrrghh. Home. Done. Survived. Hundreds of photos to look through. Kids to feed. Ports to unpack. Visitors to attend. Yawn… Post soon as possible. Thanks all for encouraging words… Jeanie told me and they helped!
Hugs
BB
Bush Babe (of Granite Glen)
PW: I love that you love my people… it’s funny how often Americans say they love Aussies. We like it, but we kinda wonder why. We wonder if it’s your “image” of us that you love (bronzed, tall, beach-savvy, with an Akubra at a jaunty angle and droll sense of humour – Steve Irwin meets Elle McPherson and Sophie Monk and Eric Bana)… visiting us could be a bit of a shock if that’s the case – we have plenty of aenemic, daggy, uptight, overweight citizens as anywhere (I just almost described me actually!). There are 20 million people here, so I guess that’s only natural… luckily I live near some beautiful people so I get to continue the myth that we are all gorgeous!
🙂
BB