Landscape Photography Magazine

As nature photographers, we are at the mercy of wild elements that cannot be controlled, and persistence often is required to wait for the right convergence of elements that bring an idea to life, as Ian Plant explains

There is a certain negative connotation to the phrase “tunnel vision,” which is defined as a “narrowness of viewpoint resulting from concentration on a single idea, opinion, etc., to the exclusion of others”. Tunnel vision typically is associated with those who are relentless and single-minded in the pursuit of too narrowly defined goals and interests. Those afflicted with tunnel vision are viewed as missing the big picture, getting mired instead in the weeds of their obsession.

Sometimes, however, tunnel vision is needed to bring a concept to fruition, and to realise fully one’s creative vision. As nature photographers, we are at the mercy of wild elements that cannot be controlled, and persistence often is required to wait for the right convergence of elements that bring an idea to life. A single-minded fixation on a particular scene or composition can be a good thing, although you may end up missing many other opportunities in the process. When you find something truly special, however, it can be worth sacrificing other prospects in order to get the picture.

During a recent two weeks’ photographic shoot in Scotland, I became the victim of a particularly virulent case of tunnel vision. A massive sea arch located along a remote stretch of rocky Scottish coast came to dominate…