It was cold. Below zero with a fierce wind blowing the sea smoke out to sea.Thermal underwear. Down jackets (notice the plural). Snow overalls. Impeccable boots. Heavy insulated socks. Rechargeable hand warmers set on high in the pockets of my third jacket layer. Neck Gator. Hat. Check.
But epic fail of forgetting the thin gloves I use in combination with the pocket warmers to get through a morning like this.
It's not that I didn't know what to expect.
By the time I tried to frame a few images the bitter cold was no longer cold. It was pain. Sheer pain pounding up to my wrists.
The other photographer out there at the same time attempting to be friendly? I apologize. I was in such pain I could no longer see. I could no longer think. I didn't have the bandwith to even be kind. I needed to get to my car asap.
The lesson. Pain evaporated my ability to see. Evaporated my ability to respond to kindness.
I raced to the car best I could and cried and cried and cried waiting for the pain to subside. Which it did.
And I am left with this lesson.