I suspect Adams was trying to do an end-run around Eastern art critics who would never like nature photography unless it purported to be about something else entirely. I think this goes too far. The outdoors is what Adams loved, and it's what we love. I've left the best element until last. Day in and day out, I work with color, light and story telling, but occasionally I get lucky.
Special moments occur when planning and luck come together and the stars are right.
Often, there's no struggle to find the right lens, reposition the camera or think things through. These photographic moments are like gifts, and I live for them. Time ceases to exist and I may find that hours have passed in what seems like moments. A recent trip I took to Australia can show how it works. I was particularly lucky because I had five special moments in a three-week trip, an uncommonly high number.