Hard to believe that March is soon coming to a close. Hope you’ve been enjoying the spring weather, break (for some of you lucky students), and sports! The start of the 2010 MLB season will be upon us shortly – I know I’m counting down. Oh, and who can write anything about Bay Area sports these days and not mention SMC’s Gaels? I didn’t go to the college, but my loose connection from HS has made me a fan (admittedly, kind of a band-wagon one). Since my usual favorite is already out of the NCAA tourney (Kansas – what happened?!), it’s all on the Gaels now.
In any case, keeping up with our ghost of photos past…here’s number eight:
just a boring little squirrel
Sometimes it’s the simplest photos of the most common sights that somehow make an impression on you. Maybe it’s because I’m in a spring mood today and the sight of green grass and wildlife remind me of that March-May time. The story of this shot is humorously typical of how good frames can come when you don’t particularly expect it. I was out in the south bay for a little hangout with two other friends, including a photowalk around the grounds of Santa Clara University. We spent most of our energy focusing on the beautiful architecture on campus and chasing a fairly portly cat around who playfully posed every so often. It wasn’t until we were headed back to the car when this little guy showed up, and I quickly pulled my camera up to snap off a few frames just for the heck of it. If I remember correctly, I was actually just about to stash all my equipment away. When I got the chance to finally review all the photos from our day, I chuckled to myself as it became obvious that for all my fiddling around with different angles and perspectives of the wonderful buildings, this was clearly one of the better, striking shots of the day. Of a ground squirrel. On the lawn. One that easily could have not happened.
So that advice that tons of other pro photographers give about never putting your camera away until you are absolutely, positively done? Yup, they’re right. Even when you think you’re done, moments worth capturing can show up! So I admit, part of why this made my list is the lesson behind it. There are shots out there that I like better, absolutely. But this one taught me a lesson that’s helped me not to miss a lot of other, more fantastic moments. And for that reason, it’s a favorite.
