Captured

There have been so many times in my life when I’ve uttered the dreaded phrase; I wish I had a camera. Too many to count actually. Like the time when we were in Spain and the battery in my camera died on our long, meandering walk through the countryside of a tiny village where we had spent our day. We were roaming up and down sloping hills, and as we dropped into a still valley, through the tall brush rose the ruins of an old church. Dark, time-worn stones still held a sacred shape on the overgrown holy ground. And right above the still pointed tip of the remaining peaked wall was the glowing moon, dangling in the late afternoon sky; a sight so breathtaking I was weak in the knees. And yet, I had no camera to capture it. At least not a camera that worked.

Photography is an art that can often take us by surprise. A moment we weren’t expecting happens right before our lens and-click-we grab it just like that. Events and expressions happen around us everyday that are photo-worthy. Although I don’t carry my camera everywhere I go, there are times, by a stroke of good fortune or maybe even synchronicity that I’ve had my camera with me at the perfect moment.

The other day as I was driving away from a portrait session, down the steep hill away from my client’s quite street, I headed toward the hustle and bustle of an LA Blvd. As I slowly approached the signal, there before me was an impossibly blue sky, dreamlike billowy clouds and this architecture that made the whole landscape come alive. It was as if everyone came out to play and I had stumbled across the fun. Sitting beside me, in the passenger seat was my trusty companion. What luck! Click.

Are there any pictures you’ve captured when you were especially glad you had your camera? Share your clicks.

Comments

[heidi]

Wow. The blue of the sky and the shading on the clouds is amazing. How lucky that you had your camera!

This is a shot I feel very fortunate to have captured. The shifting light inside this cathedral illuminated the windows for just a little while:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hstender/2058186572/

[Angharad]

i have my little camera with me always but my nikon is too heavy to have in my bag all the time. i love this shot - outside today i am looking at grey rainy skies and this has cheered up my morning!

[Jennifer]

This one was taken in my backyard. It was my first day with my new camera.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/veridianblue/2425026560/

[Marcie]

I was walking home one day..not particularly thinking of photography when I happened by a stone wall with 3 deer standing still as statues. My first thought was that they were leftover christmas reindeer ornaments..and then one of them moved ever so slightly.
Yes - I was thrilled to have had my camera with me!

http://marciescudder.blogspot.com/2008/03/vixen-donner-blitzen.html

[Flower]

I had a wonderful experience recently....

http://theflowerlife.blogspot.com/2008/04/captured.html

[Shelli]

Love that blue sky!

I call this my lucky shot:

http://web.mac.com/pabis/Mama_of_Letters/Camera_Happy.html#22

[Tracie]

My lucky click, although I didn't have the settings on the camera just right. I still think it looks like a posed portrait.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2240/2420196943_9828659d9f.jpg

[kacey]

I actually now carry a bigger purse so I can throw in my DSLR camera with my 50mm lens when I'm out. Was so glad to have my camera on my desk for this shot in my backyard:

http://www.wineonthekeyboard.com/2008/02/03/snowy-deer/

and this series of shots on a road trip last week. Just love the clouds after the storm. I actually had my camera at my feet instead of packed away in the back of the car.I'm getting much better at having my camera at hand.

http://www.wineonthekeyboard.com/2008/04/12/road-trip/

[Melody A.]

It's not just the blue sky but the cool buildings under the sky. Very nice.

I posted this earlier this week, but serendipitous.
http://thehipmommasjournal.squarespace.com/journal/2008/4/14/lifes-little-adventures.html

[camerashymomma]

wow tracey, that is surreal! the colors of the building are so happy against that sky. you're right, those moments are given to us at just the right time!

this one of mine is a photo that is 11 years old, quite lucky at the time that i had a camera with me at all:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerashymomma/2423420913/

[Lauren C.]

The scream heard round the world...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sophiesings/2424627831/

[Stephanie]

Beautiful shot. I have so many moments when I WISHED I had my camera....maybe I need a bigger purse to carry it with me ....

[melanie]

long time visitor posting my first post.:)

I really enjoy this site so much. You all are such AMAZING photographers! Such fun to see what everyone captures in their lives!

Here is my photo. the lighting isnt all that great but i just love the way the sun is glowing through that big cloudy sky.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23637958@N06/2424693595/

[Karen G]

Great shot!

I was happy that I had my camera with me when I walked by this duck:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23132596@N07/2424757693/

[Kelly]

That picture is stunning, Tracey! The perfect clouds that seem to be hovering inches above the building, the amazing colors...I love it!

There are so many moments when I wished I had my camera with me, but I'm getting much better about bringing it along as much as possible, especially now that I have my new Nikon SLR and can't seem to put it down! :)

Here are a few "so glad I had it" moments (none of which are with my new camera because those have all been pretty purposeful so far)

A funny one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/momofthreewi/2300586775/in/set-72157603976765521/

A great timing one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/momofthreewi/370202918/in/set-72157603976765521/

A PERFECT timing and SO glad I thought of taking a picture before I remedied the situation one :) http://www.flickr.com/photos/momofthreewi/2299483802/in/set-72157603976765521/

A recent favorite where I decided to grab the camera right before taking the dog for a walk: http://www.flickr.com/photos/momofthreewi/2348032003/in/set-72157594501622427/

A sweet moment when I was holding the camera and my son brought me a gift: http://www.flickr.com/photos/momofthreewi/2384033564/in/set-72157594501622427/

[Rachel/justmakeit]

Tracey, that is a stunning shot -- anything under that sky would be nice, but that building is so whimsical that the whole thing just makes me smile!
Last year in Paris, I ran into a bakery to get a loaf of bread. My husband is a celiac -- can't eat wheat of any kind, no bread, no pastries, no cake. I was standing in line and looked out the window and saw him looking in the bakery window so wistfully. I happened to have my camera, but I still can't quite believe I was able to capture the moment.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelpasch/1682495690/in/set-72157602605232466/

[Jen]

I have two that were taken on the same day when my daughter and I were out for a walk. The first is of an elderly lady who stopped to give my daughter a kiss:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlynn28/2251185786/in/set-72157603833872114

The second was moments later when a man walked by with his dog who jumped in the air:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlynn28/2250390363/in/set-72157603833872114/

[Jen S]

This is amazing. I like the Mondrian style patterns.
http://flickr.com/photos/47169362@N00/81400548/in/set-72157604525141462/ captured flying home

and driving in Cal wine tasting with friends.
http://flickr.com/photos/47169362@N00/1738108938/in/set-72157604525141462/

[cotterpin]

I saw this when I was pulling into my driveway from work- lucky my camera was just inside!

http://cotterpinhouse.wordpress.com/2007/09/21/clear-sailing-aheadmaybe/

[natala]

In the car, on the highway...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/atheart/2426136136/

[Amy]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellaminnowpeas/220683376/

[Shelly]

What a wonderful picture. I don't know how many times I've wished I'd had my camera and didn't!

Here is a picture that I am thankful I clicked at the right moment!

http://scenesfromeverydaylife.blogspot.com/

[simply]

I shot this photo at my friends wedding...I love the "glow" of it. I am so glad I had my snap shot camera with me...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22779383@N08/2426762748/

~simply~

[Ginny]

Got this one last weekend, I managed to time it just right!

http://monkeymemories.blogspot.com/2008/04/shutter-sisters-captured.html

[Mollie]

We found this drawing at the park and my little one just happened to stand right next to it and look over. So neat.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mehannon/1481821057/

[Janine]

My daughter was just learning how to pull herself up. She didn't want to take a nap and she got stuck...

http://flickr.com/photos/25744047@N03/2427312323/

[Lawyer Mama]

http://flickr.com/photos/lawyermama/2367277369/in/set-72157603638375698/

I caught the perfect expression on Hollis's face. Pure joy. So glad I caught it.

[Emily]

That is beautiful.

I had just newly bought my Sigma telephoto/macro lens when I was trolling around my inlaws' house looking for flowers to play with my lens. I didn't even notice the bug until I uploaded this, and it totally made the shot for me:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tnemily/521077789/