Temptation (Giving In To)

When I was recently in Portland for the holidays, the weather was not exactly agreeable to outdoor photography. In fact, it was down right nasty at times, windy, rainy, soggy, and disgusting. It was the kind of weather we're currently experiencing in Chico, the gray gloom that signals an afternoon on the couch with a blanket and a good book. Nevertheless, Molly and I ventured out as often as possible, hoping for breaks in the rain and a little bit of favor from the weather gods.

After our mid-day tram ride into the clouds, we stopped to warm up at a café near the tram station at the South Waterfront area. Because it was pouring, all I wanted to do was get from one covered place to another. But sometimes you have to overcome one desire to give in to another temptation. In this instance, I just had to stop in the pouring rain to pull out my camera and snap these glistening metal fire valves, freshly adorned with a multitude of rain drops.



I think you'll agree that the stop was worth it. I love the above photo in black and white, which emphasizes the cold metal and the fresh rain drops. Below, I let the image in color to capture that "fire engine" red of the valve screw.



Lesson learned: when all common sense tells you to go about your normal behaviors, give in to your photographic temptations. It might just pay off.
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Eric
Eric Lovelin Photography