I cannot count how many times this has happened to me. Sometimes, it’s my fault. I’ll shoot something only to find out that the camera settings were all wrong, and the opportunity has passed. Or sometimes, it’s because my thinking is messed up. Like the time I drove right by a perfectly beautiful shot of the Shasta River, on my way to the Klamath River. Thinking at the time, well if there is morning mist rising from the tiny little Shasta River, imagine how beautiful and misty the big ole’ Klamath will be. But, it wasn’t. And of course, by the time I got back to the Shasta River, it wasn’t either. Sometimes I miss the shot through no fault of my own. Like the time I was driving back from the Tulelake Wildlife Refuge and noticed the most beautiful sunset colors reflected in the marsh along Stateline Road. But, there was no where to pull over and there was a big-rig right on my tail. By the time I found a safe place to stop, the color had faded.
For the longest time, I would get angry at myself, or sad, or disappointed when I missed a great shot. It was as if I somehow failed as a photographer to have seen something beautiful and not captured it to share with the rest of the world. Then, a few weeks ago, I realized something. There is infinitely more beauty in this world than I will ever be able to see, much less photograph. I have been extremely lucky in my life to see some amazing things, and even luckier to have photographed a few of them. So now, if I miss a shot, instead of being upset about not capturing it inside the camera, I feel grateful for having witnessed it at all. And I also feel grateful for the amazing things I have been able to capture. Here are a few of them:
…Before the Storm
Sandhill Crane Mating Dance
Gold in the River
Bald Eagle Couple
All I can say is I hope there are many, many more opportunities ahead, even though I know that I will miss some of them.
Loree awesome article! I too have been in those situations and thought if only…..
It’s great to hear I’m not the only one who misses the great shot for a miriad of reasons.
Oh Jason, I could probably recall hundreds of situations where I missed the shot. These are but a few. I’m sure there will be many more. Such is life.
Derive great pleasure from the gift of your talent!
I too have missed some great photo’s because of nowhere to turn off and trucker behind me. I thought like you at first and was angry that I missed the photo, but later I too thought how nice I got to see it.
Your photo’s are amazing!!!
Thank you very much Larry.
Thank you Linda!
Loved this article, Loree. We photographers beat ourselves up for the missed shots, but you’re right. What about all the GOOD ones we have in our repertoire. No one knows about the ones we’ve missed, only the ones we nail. Love your work!!!
Barb