Behind the Photograph: Shoot What You Love at Rocky Point

The Story: The Plan vs. The Pull

Something I’ve always believed — and said out loud more times than I can count — is this:

Shoot what you love.

People. Places. Still life. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it matters to you.

The night before I made this image, I had a plan. A solid one.

I checked my photo apps. Studied the sunrise angle. Chose my position carefully at Rocky Point Park. Gear packed. Alarm set. Mind focused.

I was ready to make the photo I had envisioned.

As I walked the path toward the old pier, I rounded a corner and stopped cold.

That tree.

It wasn’t part of the plan. It wasn’t on the scouting notes. But it stopped me in my tracks.

I actually said out loud, “Wow. That tree is gorgeous.”

And then — like a disciplined little planner — I kept walking.

Ignoring the Obvious

I set up at my original spot. Dialed in composition. Made a few test shots. Everything was technically fine.

But I kept glancing over my shoulder.

That tree.

By the third glance, I knew.

Packed up. Walked back down the path. Returned to the place where I had first stopped.

This was it.

This felt right.

The Gut Moment

Every photograph I’ve ever truly loved has had that moment.

The quiet internal click when I press the shutter and something just settles. No overthinking. No second guessing. Just certainty.

I can’t explain it technically.

But I trust it now more than I trust any carefully crafted plan.

That sunrise at Rocky Point wasn’t about the pier. It wasn’t about executing a strategy.

It was about listening.

The heart knows.

Listen to it.

Shoot what you love.

The Lesson: Planning Is a Tool, Not a Rule

Planning matters. I believe in it. I scout. I study light. I show up prepared.

But planning is a starting point — not a prison.

If something pulls at you creatively, pay attention. That pull is often stronger than logic.

The best photographs aren’t always the ones you mapped out the night before.

Sometimes they’re waiting around the bend.

Technical Details

Location: Rocky Point Park, Warwick, Rhode Island
Camera / Lens: Canon 7D with 70–200mm f/2.8
Settings:
Aperture: f/8.0
Shutter Speed: 10 seconds
ISO: 100

Light: Early sunrise with soft coastal glow and silhouetted foreground

Approach: Originally planned for a different composition near the pier, but shifted focus when the tree’s shape and positioning against the morning sky created a stronger emotional response. Slowed the shutter slightly to soften subtle movement and preserve the calm mood of the scene.

Tip: If you find yourself looking back at something repeatedly, stop resisting it. That’s your instinct trying to redirect you.

Practice This Yourself

You don’t need a famous landmark to practice this lesson.

Try this:

• Go out with a specific plan in mind
• Stay open to unexpected subjects
• Notice what stops you in your tracks
• If something lingers in your mind, follow it

The photograph you feel is often stronger than the photograph you planned.

Continue the Coastal Series

This Rocky Point sunrise is available as a fine art print — a reminder that instinct often leads to your best work.

If this story resonates, explore the full Rhode Island Seascapes collection and other Behind the Photograph features to see how planning, patience, and intuition shape each image.

From printer to wall — farm to table for your soul.