A Picture is Where it Finds YOU!

[caption id="attachment_42" align="alignnone" width="480" caption="Quick as a flash!"][/caption] A slow, lazy day taking pictures can get interesting real quick - make sure you're ready when it does!  We were out shooting eagles last month and they spent most of the afternoon just hanging out in the trees being lazy.  Then out of no where an eagle came shooting over my shoulder, grabbed a fish, turned around and flew off!

Luckily I had my backup camera with my 400 lens slung over my shoulder, I quickly grabbed it, focused and shot as the eagle passed over my head.  Even more lucky (or maybe you could say "prepared"!) I had setup my backup camera when I got out that morning - and reset the exposure compensation a couple times during the day.  What turned out to be a great shot could have been a total miss if I didn't keep my equipment ready for the conditions.

Lessons learned - be ready, just in case, for when the picture finds you.  The old expression holds true - luck favors the prepared.  Hey, someone tell my wife!  I really can be trained!!

A Picture is Where You Find it!

[caption id="attachment_32" align="alignnone" width="480" caption="It's Cold!"][/caption] On a very cold snowy day over the recent holidays, I went out for a wonderful walk in the fresh snow.  It was going to be about 3 miles and I was eagerly anticipating some great shots of birds in the snow.  As it turned out, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Returning home I was bummed out!  What a waste of my time - not even a single shutter snap!  As I walked into the house, grumbling to myself about the poor time I just had, I happened to look out the window - and look what I saw!  This poor Dove sitting right by the heated bath trying to warm up - what a great natural shot - and it was just waiting for me!

I should have enjoyed the wonderful winter hike for what it was, if a picture presented itself - great - if not, enjoy the walk itself!  The pictures will be waiting for you when they're ready - you don't always have to work so hard it - especially if it can start to take the fun and wonder out of the hobby.

Let The Imperfections Begin!

Actually, they've been happening for a long time now!  I was an avid photographer as a child (mostly outdoors) but drifted away from it as I moved into high school with different things on my mind. (girls and cars mostly!)  I rediscovered photography as an adult with the advent of digital and tied it directly to my two passions, the love of the outdoors and cars!

I'm not special or necessarily a very good photographer - but I love it!  Every time a make a picture, I've learned something new - and here is where those lessons will be scribed.  Some may be simple, boring, stupid or silly - but that's all part of the fun!  And I'm betting that I'm not the only one who can benefit from simple and basic lifelong learning!!

Enjoy! And thank you for visiting and participating!

Mark Theriot