Walking away from a shoot empty-handed can be discouraging. Especially when you've invested significant travel time and/or expense to reach the location at which you're working, or if you have a finite period of time in which to spend at a location, every session that fails to yield an image is frustrating.

Still, there's almost always something positive you can take away from nearly every field shoot. Sometimes it's as basic as having enjoyed the experience.

That enjoyment can manifest itself in a variety of ways. It could be an appreciation for what you just witnessed: the beginning of the day, a spectacular storm rolling through, clouds dancing across the sky, darkness blanketing the scene, falling snow transforming the landscape. Perhaps it was the company of a fellow photographer. Maybe it's some little nugget you observed that will help you make an even better image than what you originally intended when you return to try again. It could simply be savoring the process itself.

When your workplace is the great outdoors, there's a lot to be said for the opportunity to be outside "in it" - even if you don't get the shot. Not only that, the fact that every session isn't a success makes it even more exhilarating when everything does come together.

Enjoy!