Friday, December 10, 2010

Friday's Photolife--Life is Fleeting

Wednesday's answer and winner: Yes! It was a wrestling tournament. Congrats to Samantha Vérant! She was very quick on the draw (nice cliché). The actual venue was the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC. It was a special tournament where only the top 2 or 3 in each weight class from each state were invited. One of those was my amazing nephew.

My kids and I were coming home one evening about a month ago and the sky was an astounding, eerie kind of cool. This was during some powerful storms that were passing through. I was kicking myself that I didn't have my camera with me. I knew my cell phone wouldn't be able to do it justice, so I just hurried home thinking I'd get what I could when I got there. 

I rushed into the house grabbed my camera and dashed immediately into the front yard. At 6:04:12 I got this photo:

At 6:05:37 It has dissipated to this.

At 6:05:55 to this:

After that it was completely gone. If I'd stopped to change lenses or think I'd have gotten nothing. As it was I'd already missed the most amazing stuff (not being prepared with a camera in my car--shame on me--but that's another discussion), but at least I got something. 

In photography, as with most things in life, you must (cliché alert) strike while the iron is hot.  

Application to writing? Snap up opportunities when they come your way. Talk to that agent at a conference. He may not be there next time you walk by. Sign up for critiques when they are offered (if you need critiques). If you delay, the time may have passed or things may be filled up before you (cliché alert again) pull the trigger. Learn to act quickly or your chances may pass you by.

11 comments:

Samantha Vérant said...

Wee! ! win! I win! Of course, I have the time change working in my favor. Have a great w/end! In the meantime, I'm going to bribe French Santa with booze and cigarettes. Maybe he'll put in a good word for me on the agent search?

Sherrie Petersen said...

Beautiful shots. Amazing how quickly the sky changed.

Carpe diem :)

Stina said...

I now keep my awesome point & shoot camera in my bag. As long as I have my bag with me, I'm good to go (unless I want to do some specialty shots):D

Elana Johnson said...

Gorgeous pictures! And yes, you must be ready when opportunity strikes. In all areas of life.

Angie said...

Such good advice. I know what you mean. We saw the most beautiful double rainbow on Halloween, but had no camera to shoot it with. By the time we got home to the camera it was almost gone. :( Good thing I took a picture with my heart.

Susan R. Mills said...

Great advice! I learned my lesson the hard way. I passed up a golden opportunity not to long ago, and I've regretted it ever since.

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Great point! I could kick myself for not getting to know one of the editors at the last conference I went to better...

Great pics, Lola!

Abby Minard said...

What a beautiful picture! I can't believe it went away so fast. You're so right- we need to snatch up those opportunities when we can or else we'll lose our chances.

Amie Kaufman said...

So true! A few times I've jumped on something without pausing to think about whether I should and it's always paid off in spades. She who hesitates is lost, and all that!

Unknown said...

Great post and the use of visually stunning photography always brings life to your tips!

Heidi Willis said...

This is like looking at the sky from my backyard! :)

Beautiful photos! I know how many times I've missed a shot because I didn't have my camera right on me. Beauty can be truly fleeting!