....and the Agony of Defeat.

If you're of a certain age, enjoy sports and grew up in the United States, you probably watched "Wide World of Sports" on Saturday afternoons just as I did. Host Jim McCay's introduction to the show, which included that phrase, became iconic.

I recalled that line a few weeks back on the anniversary of Ansel Adams' birth. Rereading some of his quotes, I was reminded of one that conjures up what McCay referenced, albeit in a context outside of sports:

"Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer - and often the supreme disappointment."

How could the quest to make a picture possibly be so challenging? How could the process elicit feelings ranging from elation on the one hand to extreme dismay on the other?

Especially since smartphone cameras are now ubiquitous (point, snap, presto!), the idea of planning for months, or waiting a year (or more), or returning over and over again to the same location before being able to capture a specific image is probably inconceivable to many.

Then there's the matter of understanding what kind of an image is possible to create and how to achieve it: mastering the technical nuances of one's equipment and becoming proficient in the digital darkroom.

Good landscape photos are generally not created in an instant. Nor are they cranked out in rapid succession.

Outdoor photographers know a little something about striking out. While advance planning certainly improves the likelihood of success, when push comes to shove we have no control over the conditions. Every shoot does not yield a successful result. We don't always get that assist from a little bit of good luck.

After all the time, effort, and expense spent trying to make an image, walking away empty-handed can be a crushing disappointment. The agony of defeat, so to speak.

But when it all comes together, especially after having struggled with poor conditions for what feels like an eternity, it can be a euphoric feeling to get the photo. Particularly after your patience has been put to the test, there's nothing like knowing you just witnessed something special - and knowing that you captured it with your camera.

Like the batter who connects for a decisive home run after a lengthy drought at the plate, we experience the thrill of victory.

Soon enough, it's off to the next shoot, or as Adams puts it, the next test. Again we plan, we wait, we persevere. We hope for some serendipity. And though the odds might be stacked in Mother Nature's favor, we enjoy.