chasing chance

My favorite photography subjects are my two young boys and birds, all types, as long as they flit and scurry and FLY (sorry ostriches). Capturing either can be both breath-holding and heart-thumping because these subjects do not stay still for long. And I don't want them to. I don't want to capture their stillness; I want to capture the fitful, unpredictable beauty of their wildness. I want to capture them taking off.

I am not a peaceful person by nature. And therefore, I don't feel it is my calling to shoot photos of the calm and soothing landscapes of this life. A pretty still life here and there, sure. Who can resist? But what I have found in taking photos over the past few years is that I love to chase chance with my camera. I love not knowing what's going to happen next. I love the challenge of waiting for the moment, and I love waiting to see what arbitrary magic the shots will reveal. My favorite photos have come from such moments.

As for finding some peace, well, for me, the peace is actually what comes as I gaze upon the outcome, a colorful moment frozen before my eyes. I find my peace (and my thrill) in the capturing, as I see them, of the random and wild little miracles in my life. Then I can continue to live the unstill life I am quite possibly destined to live, but I can also find some serenity in what unfolds. The way I see it, to steal a few potent words from Wendell Berry's poem "The Broken Ground": "What is left is what is." Well hello, peace.

As with most artful motives, there is a dilemma at the core of this methodology: do you snap quickly (and wildly) without regard to mechanics of photography in hopes that you'll capture the magic. Is this just downright lazy and amateur? Or do you pick up your camera gently, think wisely, swirl the dial to the appropriate numerology, take aim, check focus, hold your breath, and hope that in doing everything right, the magic will reveal itself—that's if the subject's still around to capture after all that? I have to say I don't have an answer here. I've had luck with both. But luck is exactly what it is for me. So, at what point, do you decide to prop up the luck with practice, knowledge, and applied expertise? Or do you? Maybe you just keep following the magic.

I'd love to see how you've captured "wildness"—may it be in nature or your everyday life. Do tell us is if your capture was luck, finely tuned technique, or a combination of the two.

Photo and words shared by Honorary Shutter Sister Sheri Reed of happinest  and today is pretty .

Comments

[brittany]

We visited the local zoo here in Prague. The zoo here is set up much different then any I've been to in the states. It was feeding time, and we were lucky enough to be there. I was also shooting through glass, so it was luck that we were there on time, luck that the photo turned out with no reflection, and luck the animal posed this way... but I was trying to get something! So I guess mine is a combination photo...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/britspit/2566836087/in/set-72157605533761500/

[Kathleen]

Little boys move really fast! So I throw my camera on auto and follow as best as I can. I like to think that the results are a combination of luck and watching with an aspiringly artistic eye...does that make sense? Also - some of the magic comes in the editing, for me.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ko2008/2756859330/

[margie]

i do a little of both, careful and chasing the photo. i have a very very cooperative grandson who when i ask him if he wants to take pictures with bubby is more than enthusiastic. i tell him one day he will be famous and the paparazzi will mean nothing to him because they couldn't be worse than me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/margela/

[simply]

This shot!!!
http://bp0.blogger.com/_A1Xbjk4uEks/SCXrAJlJBII/AAAAAAAADcM/Y2ULhjSSLug/s1600-h/being+mom7.jpg


even thought it is the back of him...you can tell what his face is doing...

~simply~

[Jess]

This photo was a happy accident.
I was trying to take a photo of the quilt for my blog, and my Hug-a-Bugs started playing Ring Around the Rosy on it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesspunky/2499581282/in/set-72157606505426063/

[ELK]

I almost missed my "FLYER" in both of these...it was pure luck..as are most all of my action shots

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sammymom/2757069846/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sammymom/2757069748/in/photostream/

[~ kristina ~]

I love the energy of little boys! I shoot fast and hope for the best when they're playing, knowing I may not have long to capture their expressions and movements.

http://meadowlarkdays.blogspot.com/2008/08/little-boys.html

[Bet]

Captured this during the wild weather we had here on Sunday. From severe thunderstorm warnings, tornado warnings and golf ball sized hail it was an intense day.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3296/2750825953_b267b58da2_o.jpg
The next one is of my Great-Neice, our princess who loves pink and everything girly. She'd been doing a bunch of modeling poses when suddenly she pulled a rocker pose that had us all dying from laughter.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2010/2528965720_e06dbb6f31_b.jpg

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

I like to take my time, generally I am approaching a potential photo with great thought and purpose.........and I am very mindful about the technical aspects of what I am shooting. Some moments, can not be easily recreated or revisited once we've been or seen, and I like to make sure that I'm going to get the best shot that I can at that moment.

For instance:
My most recent trip to California was a big one for me, Hearst Castle was a stop on our itinerary.....being in NC, it is not a place I will be able to go back to anytime soon.

http://wayfaring-wanderer.blogspot.com/2008/08/hearst-castle.html

[Krista]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/krheiser/2755522650/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/krheiser/2727817267/in/photostream?edited=1

[Tracy]

From this weekend at the lake.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tracylederer/2756476223/

[Terri]

We live on a lake and every winter hundreds of geese flock here. One day I sat out on a boat dock taking pictures and studying them to see what they did before they flapped their wings. After quite a few missed shots I was able to catch this one.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mondaysmemories/2248837032/

[poet with a day job]

Sheri I love this post! Beautifully written, and about so much more than photography. Meaning of life! I love the way you describe capturing the unstillness as proof of beauty in your life - which then allows you not to feel bad about the unstillness, but to feel joy: it is what it is - it is you.

The hair at this point is over the top! Love it!

[Solange]

Like this post. I love happy accidents. Nice of the sun to cooperate don't you think?
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_l_L7JXUrhuk/SKG49AHNOAI/AAAAAAAAAOE/1ZAHLK16etE/s1600-h/swing.jpg

[maya]

i definitely set out to capture my girl's wildness & independent spirit yesterday.

http://flickr.com/photos/23558661@N03/2752714223/

[jfrancis]

The magic is knowing,
with your skill level,
how many snaps
it will take
to get that one 'lucky' shot.

[AllisonK]

I really like jfrancis comment, perfectly expresses my thoughts.


http://allisonkimball.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/08/new-card-reader.html

[Gayle]

The photos in this post I captured by accident, as most of my pictures are, because I am very new to photography! I love these photos of our Parson Russell Terrier. I think they capture his joyfulness!

http://planetmfiles.com/2008/08/12/the-wild-child/

[gonzomama]

if i didn't capture the wildness and movement of my boy i wouldn't be capturing the essence of who he is. and that's what i will want to remember - who he was in those moments.
http://flickr.com/photos/59735955@N00/2756678379/

[Meryl]

Nothing more fierce and furious than trying to take pictures at a rock concert with a hundred women jostling to get the same place you want to be, but (out of about 250) I got a few good shots....

See here: http://www.mybitofearth.net/2008/08/rick-springfiel.html

or

here: http://blackbird13.smugmug.com/gallery/5667319_8qjkR/1/349032423_QxNEp#P-2-12

[Steph Wiese]

The hair shot was planned but the duck shot was a crazy flip of the dial and see what ya get shot.

See them here...
http://stephwiese.squarespace.com/shutter-sister-pictures/wild-shots/

Or here...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephwiese/?saved=1

[SH]

I captured this photo of my older daughter racing past our piano two Halloweens ago when she was just 15 months old. She was a constant blur of motion, and still is - the difference is, now I have to run to keep up with her. As for luck vs. skill? I'd have to say it was a little of both. It was inside at night with no flash, so my shutter speed was slow. I panned the camera purposefully, but there was definitely some luck involved as well.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sh_photography/2756780185/

[Cheryl Doran-Girard]

I do so wish that there was more to my skill than a rather large dose of serendipity. When it comes to these little ones or anything that moves, it's automatic mode and keep pushing the button!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheryldoran-girard/2640517549/

[Lawyer Mama]

I do a bit of both! My kids, however, NEVER pose. It would never occur to me to ask them. I'd rather shoot them as they really are.

http://flickr.com/photos/lawyermama/2746008026/
http://flickr.com/photos/lawyermama/2367277369/in/set-72157606640419273/
http://flickr.com/photos/lawyermama/2557867056/in/set-72157606640419273/

[Christina]

The magic is in the moment. Most of my favorite images were total accidents. When I do try to plan, I am usually dissapointed. When I just take it as it comes, I am thrilled by the unexpected treasures captured.

[Marcie]

I'm late here to chime in.
Here are a couple of mine:
http://bravo.unisonplatform.com/~marciesc/index.php?showimage=484
http://bravo.unisonplatform.com/~marciesc/index.php?showimage=485

[Stephanie]

The magic of just being a kid: http://slsmithphotgraphy.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/08/magic.html

[tangobaby]

Funny enough, I have two photos that come to mind. Both are accidents, and both are of happy, boisterous little girls.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tangobaby2/2757223561/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tangobaby2/2695115876/in/set-72157606300926773/

[mary]

Here are my "wild things," and this shot was pure luck:

http://inasoftlight.blogspot.com/2008/08/tread-lightly.html

[Julie Alvarez]

She moves a lot. That makes her the kind of kid she is.
But I love to catch her staring at something.
At the moon here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2678638221/
At the reflection of the sun on her star here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2756930403/

[Beth]

I love composing shots and using care to get just the right look, but every once in a while, I just get a shot I hadn't planned. My 6-year-old isn't as keen at posing as he once was. When I got home and looked at my pictures from the beach, I was surprised and delighted to find this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28560714@N04/2699244770/

Beth

[Michelle S]

This Summer, I've had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with some special kids - mine, my nieces and nephews, and my boyfriend's son. I've taken a lot of pictures. I caught my nephew in a little series before he realized that I was pointing the camera at him. He was busy trying to get the attention of the big kids - his sister and cousin. I caught him, his adorable expressions, and my niece who is constantly pulling her pants up.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26029966@N02/2758927304/
and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26029966@N02/2758927800/in/photostream/

[Five Flowers]

I think I do a little of both; sometimes the panned shots turn out.

http://www.fiveflowers.org/33project/2008/05/spring-light.html

...but more often it is the quick shot that I don't think anything of that really stands out::

http://www.fiveflowers.org/33project/2008/01/mushroom-2008.html

[Harmony]

With my children, I almost never pose. Leave posing for the adults--and that's only because they've forgotten to play like kids do. I found this one of my son laughing which I LOVE.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22491542@N02/2589074984/

Focus all wrong, but who cares? It captures the magic of being five years old!

[Kacey]

I'd like to say these were carefully thought out photos...but really, we had three cameras going non stop to capture the fun.

http://www.wineonthekeyboard.com/2008/08/13/how-many-ways-to-jet-ski/

[MAKNJ]

http://flickr.com/photos/maknj/2656980409/

I took this one by chance. The next 13 where I tried to get the water (Epcot's dancing water fountain by Honey I Shrunk the Audience) in mid air failed, and the kids were no longer spontaneous.

[Naomi]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomesthenome/2769677749/

[NatureMama]

These photos are a combo of the wonder of digital (I took about 50 continuos shots of each of them that day) and knowing enough about my camera's functions to wind up with the good shots!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturemama/2631992875/in/set-72157605948350432/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturemama/2631992903/in/set-72157605938827422/

Also, one of my favorites from a recent day spent with family.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturemama/2631992903/in/set-72157605938827422/