I can so relate to what your saying here Kort.  Sometimes the scene is so awe inspiriing that you figure you just can't take the image incorrectly.  Wrong!  What was captured doesn't always translate when the image is viewed.  It really bums me out sometimes that I can't get what I really see, and no matter of PW will bring out the image in my mind.  But every once in awhile....you get that shot that just pops and you forget about the crap shots that didn't come out as expected.  I've come to realize that even if you have the proper equipment and it's used correctly under the right conditions,  what you see is not always what you get.  What was magnificent to see in person, might turn out quite mediocre when up on the small screen.  But IMO that's the challenge of going on photo shoots, correcting past mistakes, trying different techniques, and always trying to improve on what you have already done.  Lord knows it takes more than just lifting the camera up and taking a shot.

Like any hobby the more you practice the better you get, and  in this hobby self satisfaction plays an important part to my soul. I wish I had something recent to illustrate my point but alas nothing really worthy...Good thread Kort, really makes ya think!  I really like your image, I think it illustrates well what you saw.....I would have shot it!!

Aloha~

Kana'es Photography