Vespera Movimiento

By San Herman Lopez

Piece description from the artist

Location: Old Pilings – Naples, FL 2019

Nature's spectacles occur when least expected. Vespera Movimiento was one of these moments. I wish I could have made more art of that day, but my limited skills and equipment at the time challenged me. Regardless the image is a part of my growing process. So I embrace the moment through it.

While living on South Florida's East Coast, I would often wake up at the break of dawn to secure images with peak light. But in 2019, I met two other photographers who suggested we go and photograph sunsets on the West Coast. I thought, "I don't have to wake up early for good light, great!". We decided to go and photograph the old pilings in Naples. On the way, we drove through and then into heavy storms. It dampened our moods a bit, but we had driven a long way from home, so on we went. When we arrived at the spot, the sky was so grey that you could barely see color. But as I know now, some of the best photography is made after storms. So following the wiser photographers, we stayed; what happened next was dreamlike.

The clouds parted to reveal the sun setting. On the pilings, pelican-shaped silhouettes contrasted with the glows of the sky. It was one of the most spectacular light displays I have ever seen. And although I fought weather, equipment, and an understanding of both. I produced two photos pivotal to my growth on that stormy evening. Today I am a better photographer for it.