Roping update

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Now here's a curious phenomena - which I've observed years ago in a not dissimilar vein.

Oh yeah. By the way, the roping has gotten better. Still not ready for Prime Time, still not consistent, but decidedly better than several weeks ago. My short term goal has been achieved. I was able to learn how to spin a flat loop. Now that I've gotten to the point where I can do it somewhat reliably, it might be time to go back and read what the experts have to say about the way to do it. But I feel pretty good that although it probably took me ten times longer than many people take to learn something this insignificant, I've gotten well past the initial spazz behavior that began the activity. Once again "perseverance furthers." Whether I am capable of learning more difficult tricks remains to be seen, and no doubt will require considerably more perseverance.

Okay, so the curious phenomena: when I went out to practice roping Sunday afternoon after my return from photoing, the first spin of the session was pretty darn good. I was able to pass the rope over to my right hand, keep it going there for a few seconds, pass it back to my left, and still keep it spinning. I might have keep the rope turning for a minute total. Subsequent attempts became less and less successful, to the point that I was right back to the beginning not being able to spin the rope at all. As far as I could tell, I was doing nothing differently than the first spin when I came outside to start the session. How can this be?

I adjusted my technique a bit to be certain I began the way I knew was the recommended method. That's better. I kept at it for a while longer, and was once again able to spin a flat loop, but still probably not as neatly as the first one of the day some 30 minutes previously.

So what is it about starting out at an activity that one knows how to do, albeit in a rudimentary fashion, and being able to immediately exhibit some degree of proficiency, but then lose that proficiency the longer one practices?

And does this have an analog in photography, specifically in my own photography? Is it true that when I go out in the field, are the first images I capture the best, the truest, the most immediate? The longer I stay out, do subsequent images suffer from an overly analytical mindset? Perhaps... but I'd like to believe that I'm still open for surprise and an exciting image to present itself, as I walk farther into the field.