Some Shots Are Just Miracles (continued)

The shot was gone.

Dark clouds have rolled in and the shot was forever gone and completely darkened. I knew at that point that God was definitely speaking to me and directing me where to take photos.

"If I would have been just a few seconds later—this miracle shot that I captured—would have not been known to me or anybody else. I would have never seen what it looked like."

____________________________________________________________

Trust In Nature. Trust Your Nature!

There were many times this scenario happened to me over and over again. In fact, it happened so often that I eventually stopped questioning God about the events unfolding around me. I know it sounds crazy… but it’s true.

I would always make sure to thank God after I finished taking the photos—for giving me the chance to be there at those exact moments and those exact times. Sometimes I felt as if the earth itself had stood still just for me.

You might not believe in God, and I'm perfectly fine with that. I’m not the type to be pushy about things like that. If you believe in source energy or the power of the universe, then we probably share a similar belief.

I believe we all have a purpose. We all have our own direction and our own personal beliefs that are near and dear to us.

To me, nature is my religion. She is Mother Earth.

I love being connected to her—and to the Father—in my own special way that no one else can fully understand. The least I can do is share these thoughts and feelings with others as much as possible, so they too can find their own special connection.

In fact, I believe that is part of my goal in life—to help bring others toward that source connection.

I know without a doubt that we are divine creatures. And being able to take such creative and beautiful pictures, while having one's health, is one of the most magical blessings anyone could receive.

____________________________________________________________

It's More Than Capturing Light

Find the joy in the photo—even if you didn’t get the best shot that day, or the moment was ruined.

Sometimes the adventure and the learning alone are worth more than a thousand pictures.

There have been times when the skies and the mountains were simply too beautiful to even be snapping photos of. I didn’t want to look down into my viewfinder and miss what was happening right in front of me.

The real-life moment was far more powerful than anything I could capture.

It was a gift.

And I truly believe the Great Spirit would “gift” me—at another time and another opportunity—with another photo, another location, or another miracle waiting to be discovered.

____________________________________________________________

How To Be In the Moment

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Be in the moment.” But have you ever really thought about what that means?

When you find that moment, it’s like entering a zone. Time seems to slow down, and suddenly you can feel, see, hear, and even smell everything around you all at once.

You’ll know when it happens.

When it does, be sure to write down those feelings later so you never forget them.

Once you are connected to nature in that moment… nothing else matters.

It’s as if you are being guided by Her.

Nothing can feel more sacred than that experience right there in that exact moment.

And I truly believe—and know from experience—that the magic that happens in nature through photography is sacred and important. I also believe that same magic can happen through videography, music, and other creative expressions.

We are shown certain moments that connect us to something deeper—something that teaches us how to become better people.

Yes, I know this may sound like a lot to take in from simply taking photos.

But it’s true.

I’m not writing this just to fill space with keywords. These are real thoughts and experiences that mean something deeply to me. And I believe they can truly change how someone sees the world.

____________________________________________________________

Talk with Mother Earth

I know it might sound like I’m out in the desert doing mushrooms with hippies—but it’s really not like that.

Step outside of your comfort zone.

When you’re hiking to your location, talk with Mother Nature. For me, this connection began during times when I was dealing with extreme pain. And I mean extreme.

There were many moments when I genuinely thought I might die during a hike. Sometimes I came closer than I’d like to admit. How I made it through those moments is another story I’ll share someday.

Pain has a strange way of humbling you. And humility helps us understand who we really are. It strips everything down to the very core of what truly matters.

When you slow down like that, you start noticing things most people walk right past—the desert floor, tiny animals, insects, subtle color gradients in the rock, shadows moving across the land, patterns and shapes hidden in the plants and stones.

There were times when I honestly thought to myself, “This might be where I die—right here.”

The pain was that intense.

Because I was moving much slower than the average hiker, I saw and felt things a healthy person rushing through the trail might never notice. Every few steps I was searching for a miracle. Sometimes it was something small. Sometimes something big.

But what I discovered was an entirely new world of awareness. And that is what I’m sharing with you now.

Walk slower.

Feel more.

Listen very carefully for that quiet voice guiding you toward what you should do next.

____________________________________________________________

Once You Know... You Just Know

Once you learn to recognize these moments and understand how to work with them, you can start refining the process every time you go out with your camera.

Over time, it becomes something you can fine-tune—like a race car.

"Each experience makes you a little more aware, a little more patient, and a little more connected to the world around you."

And when that happens, photography becomes something much deeper than simply taking pictures.

Kolob Canyon in West Zion National Park at Sunset

____________________________________________________________

A Final Reflection

Most people will read this and never truly try to see what I’m talking about. That’s just the way it is. It’s a lot like when I try to explain the level of pain I live with—there’s really no way to show someone what it feels like. And if I somehow could, they would probably start screaming and call 9-1-1 or rush straight to the emergency room.

The truth is, no one truly understands… until it’s them.

So I ask you to at least try. Slow down for a moment and see if what I’m saying speaks to you. Put yourself in that space and see if you can feel what I feel when I’m out there with my camera.

I truly believe that if you do, you’ll open up an entirely new world—not just in photography or videography, but in how you experience nature itself.

And who knows… it might even make you a better person along the way.

Written by Carl Mazur

Photographer | Journalist | YouTuber

Date: 03/11/2026