You know that saying about opposites attracting? Well, that's Tracey and me in a nutshell, especially when it comes to campfires. While my wife can sit peacefully for hours, mesmerized by the dancing flames, I'm more like a squirrel that's had too much coffee. My mind races, my legs get fidgety, and sitting still feels like an Olympic sport I never qualified for.

But that's where photography comes in – my perfect excuse to merge her zen-like fire-gazing with my need to be constantly doing something."Hey, what if we tried a long exposure shot?" I pitched the idea to Tracey one evening as the sun was setting and the first stars were beginning to peek through the twilight sky.

Her response? A knowing smile and the question every photographer loves to hear: "What do you need me to do?"

"Just enjoy the fire," I said. And boy, did she nail that assignment!What followed was what I like to call my "campfire dance."

Picture this: me, darting around the fire like a moth drawn to flame, camera in hand, while Tracey sat there perfectly still, probably amused by my creative frenzy. Thirty different shots, thirty different positions, each one an experiment with time and light. Some exposures lasted 30 seconds (an eternity when you're trying to hold still!), others just 10 seconds.

But there was magic in one particular 10-second capture. It's the one I'm sharing with you today. Something special happened in those moments – the way the flames painted light across our campsite, how the dying daylight still kissed the sky, and those mesmerizing sparks dancing upward like tiny stars trying to return home. It became more than just a photograph; it became a perfect snapshot of us – Tracey's peaceful presence and my creative restlessness, somehow combining into something beautiful. It's funny how sometimes our differences lead to the best moments.

While I can't sit still at a campfire, that very restlessness led to capturing this moment that we'll both treasure forever.What about you? I'd love to hear about your favorite campfire moments or activities. Are you a peaceful fire-gazer like Tracey, or a constant mover like me? Maybe you have your own unique way of enjoying those magical evening moments?

And if you'd like to follow more of our adventures and the stories behind our captures, hop over to our travel blog at TradnDreams.com. There's always a new story waiting to be told, another moment waiting to be captured, and probably another campfire calling our names.P.S. - Next time you're sitting around a campfire, try counting how many sparks you can follow as they drift up into the night sky. It's become my new favorite game when I'm trying to sit still... at least for a few minutes! 😉