At nearly any craft show, you will inevitably discover a necklace or engraving with the saying, “not all who wander are lost.” The line – despite its overuse – rings with truth. Sometimes, a photographer may not know where their search for the perfect image will take them. The journey itself can become part of the beauty.

I found this excitement and wonder during a family trip up to Alton, Illinois.

My family dedicated a whole day to our little adventure. We set out with a single goal – to find wild bald eagles near the icy Mississippi River. We had no specific destination in mind when we set out on our journey. Instead, we planned to follow the river and keep our watchful gazes on the trees.

Wildlife photographers know that patience is key. However, traveling to where animals reside is also crucial. If you have never seen a bald eagle perched in a tree in your back yard, sitting outside all day is not likely to offer any substantial solution.

So, our goal was to capture bald eagles freely living in the wild. Photographers can capture bald eagles at the World Bird Sanctuary, of course. However, there is a different mood to a photograph of a bald eagle in its natural home.

While there is nothing wrong with having a subject in mind, there is another – similarly overused – saying relevant to a day of adventures: “Stop and smell the roses.”

You can find endless possibilities for beautiful images when you take a step back and remain curious about your surroundings. Rusted metal letters propped against an old shed. A peculiar – yet strangely cute – looking creature. Sometimes, your favorite picture from the trip will be one you never planned on taking at all.

In Alton, we found breathtaking bald eagles perching in treetops and soaring over the river. We also found abandoned buildings, parking lots full of seagulls and Treehouse Wildlife Center (located at 23956 Green Acres Road Dow, IL 62022​) along the way.

Photographers who want to visit Alton (or who want to go on their own adventure) should have a GPS or map available. It prevents you from becoming absolutely lost as you wander through a new area. A map may also help you find cute, tucked-away locations you would like to visit.

Exploring the world around you can yield stunning photographs. That is true whether a photographer prefers capturing wildlife or abstract, landscape or architecture, or color or black and white photography.

So get out and wander. You might find a new great photo spot.