Photography is a great way to meet people, travel to interesting places, and experience things you never thought would. Photographers are lucky individuals who cultivate their talent so they can have experiences that sometimes come with amazing stories which means we all have favorite memories.

However while I can pick out so many favorite memories shooting the one that stands out to me and even made my memoir is the time I actively decided not to photograph a moment. That I made the decision to be fully present.

In 2012 while traveling abroad with Semester at Sea and living on a ship we were uniquely blessed to have an astronomer on board. Whom working with the ship staff coordinated an evening when they would for an hour cut the ship lights so we can see the stars above while in the Southern Hemisphere.

The astronomer was teaching a class onboard but opened the event up to the entire ship. We all showed up early dragging pillows and blankets, placing them side by side and laying down to star above to the sounds of the sea lapping against the ship.

The moment the lights went out was magical. Stars filled the sky in a nearly 180 degree view, a red laser cut into the sky as the astronomer pointed out stars, constellations, and more. It was a truly magical experience, photographing it could have been amazing but living it, without trying to make the shot was a million times better.