My name is Marty Hulsebos and I've been a passionate landscape photographer since the late 1980's. Here's the story behind this image.
We were 600 miles into our 1200-mile trek home. My camera rested in its bag, seemingly sulking over my decision to focus on the journey rather than the photos. My determination to succeed despite the odds—the miles, the exhaustion, the constraints—always defined me. But this time, my determination had been directed toward making good time rather than capturing good images.
Passing through Kentucky, we stopped for the night at a quiet campground nestled deep in the woods. Dawn came with a golden hush, and as we packed up to leave, my wife gently reminded me, “No stopping for photography today.” I nodded, swallowing the urge to argue. The road called, and so did my promise.
As we drove out, the forest unfolded into a scene straight from a fairytale. Mist clung to the trees, swirling like whispers in the morning light. The road twisted and turned, leading us through a natural cathedral of fog and shadow. My hands gripped the steering wheel, heart aching at the beauty slipping past. But I pressed on.
Two miles later, my wife broke the silence. “Okay, we can go back.” Her words were a release, a shared acknowledgment that some moments demand to be seized. I turned the car around, heart racing.
Back at the scene, I parked, grabbed my gear, and planted my tripod right in the middle of the road. The mist was alive, dancing with the rising sun in an ever-changing display. Every breath carried the earthy scent of damp leaves, and the air hummed with birdsong and the faint rustle of awakening trees. The cold metal of my camera felt grounding in my hands as I adjusted settings, capturing the light’s playful waltz.
When cars appeared, I stepped aside, offering waves of apology before diving back into the magic. For twenty minutes, I was immersed in creation, framing the road’s curves and the mist’s embrace. The final shot was everything I’d dreamed—a curving road through an illuminated forest, a journey beckoning toward the light.
As we drove on, the image stayed with me, a tangible reminder of life’s winding, luminous path. It made the miles feel lighter, the journey richer. Sometimes, the road itself becomes the destination.
