Luck in Photography vers 14
I was at the Albuquerque Biopark Zoo and stopped by the sea lion exhibit. I always enjoy watching sea lions and seals. It reminds me of watching them on the west coast in Monterey and La Jolla. On this day I was watching this woman using her cell phone to photograph the animals swimming by the viewing window. All of a sudden, one she had been particularly interested in moved right up to the window and touched its nose against the glass as the woman touched the glass on her side. It was as if the sea lion was as interested in the woman a she was in the animal, which I think was the case. I really love the woman's expression and the gentle touch of the animal's nose on the glass during the interchange.
When I talk about luck in photography, I don't mean I stumble across photos I think are successful simply by luck. But the vagaries of life certainly play a part in the success or failure of a photo. In this instance, if I had stopped so my grandsons could ride on the carousel, this woman might have been gone by the time I arrived at the sea lion exhibit. Or I might have taken a few photos of her taking photos and missed the instant where she and this lovely critter met on a first name -- first hand and nose -- visit.
A successful photo takes patience, good timing on the photographer's part, and, yes, a bit of luck.
When I talk about luck in photography, I don't mean I stumble across photos I think are successful simply by luck. But the vagaries of life certainly play a part in the success or failure of a photo. In this instance, if I had stopped so my grandsons could ride on the carousel, this woman might have been gone by the time I arrived at the sea lion exhibit. Or I might have taken a few photos of her taking photos and missed the instant where she and this lovely critter met on a first name -- first hand and nose -- visit.
A successful photo takes patience, good timing on the photographer's part, and, yes, a bit of luck.
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