Missed Opportunities

[tjrenegade]

I keep missing great photo ops because I am on my way somewhere...driving my daughter to school, work etc.

This morning I saw a great half moon and sunrise all in the same shot but I didn't have time to shoot it...

Its so frustrating....:cry:

Anyone else have these dilemas.....?

Is there a 12 step program for photographers anonomous?

[R Hardman]

Yep, it's all part of being a photographer.

[Radtech1]

I once saw a photographers gallery that had an entire subsection of "Shots I Didn't Take". It had the frames like a regular gallery, but instead of an image, there was text describing what he saw, and why he didn't get the shot.

"This is not a shot of two cranes fighting over a fish at dawn.
I did not take the shot because my camera was in the car."

Rad

[75D]

Happens all the time, have missed some great sunrises over the last couple of weeks because I couldn't get in position in time or I didn't have the camera with me.
New Years resolution is to carry my A75 all the time so at least I will have a chance to get one of those "shots I didn't take"

Wayne

[Saralonde]

I'd be surprised to find someone that said they never missed one.

[tjrenegade]

I like the idea of the gallery of shots I didn't get....thats perfect for me.....

I guess I will be consoled by the fact that the sun will rise again tomorrow....and the next day and the next day and the next day and the next day and the next day and the next day and the next day...........well you get the idea...

[Pete]

All the time. Had a superb sunset the other night after a day of rain, just when I didn't have my camera with me. Also recently, I saw three exactly parallel jet streams in a clear blue sky that would have made a wonderful shot.

I'm always practiscing my "eye", so when I do have the camera with me, planning and framing the shot is almost second nature.

[NetDep]

I have redoubled my effort *not* to miss shots and still do. Lately I have been trying to catch a lot of "street" or "urban" stuff and making an effort to be kind of bold (for me anyway) and not miss anything. While on my way home from work (and I had my camera) I drove down a main street and noticed on a side street one of those large "Men Working Ahead" signs that flagpersons stand in front of. Not a big deal you say. Well - this one had a blonde (rather attractive but that is kinda beside the point) and she was sitting on a milk crate, in her traffic vest (and clothes - stop!), reading a paperback book. She was oblivious to the world. As I drove by and noticed this - not going terribly fast - I thought, "What a great shot!!" The juxtaposition of the "Men" in men working, the "Working" with her sitting there reading a book - it all struck me as a perfect storm for my current passion. Well - as I drove along closer to home and further from the "Men Working"I reasoned - she might look up when she sees my car and bye-bye candid shot or she will be there tomorrow (not) or a couple of other lame excuses that kept me from turning around and just shooting it!! So - I missed it - no one to blame but me. That is my confession - I will try to do better - I chickened out. I will try to do better - stay tuned for that - career making - one in a million - shot...note to self -- pack camera, patience and confidence. Happy Snapping - Tim.

[tjrenegade]

I need to get in the habit of putting my camera bag AND tripod in the car....I miss more good shots becuase I have the camera but don't have the tripod....so I end of getting mediocre shots.

[JuSlaughter]

All the god damn time!!! I was taking shots of the moon the other night, messing about with settings, looked up from the camera to see a passenger jet passing right through the middle of the moon and I missed it. I was gutted.

[Scunner]

Similar to Pete's missed shot, I was driving home from work recently to see two fluffy white jet streams crossing under a bright blue sky, similar to the Scottish Saltire (flag). By the time I got home to my camera, crosswinds had distorted the perfectly straight lines.

I was going to call it "Scotland over Cincinnati". :cry:

[PhotosGuy]

This morning I saw a great half moon and sunrise all in the same shot but I didn't have time to shoot it...

Its so frustrating.... So be 5 minutes late? ;)

[Mcary]

Yes almost every morning while driving to work the road goes over a bridge and off to the one side I’ve seen what would make and incredible photograph. Problem is this I-95 N so I’m even leery of parking on the shoulder of the bridge at 6:30 am on a Sunday morning due to the narrow width of the shoulder. I’ve looked around from other locations in the area that offer the same view but haven’t found one yet.

Mike

[tjrenegade]

So be 5 minutes late? ;)

That would not have been a problem but I didn't have the camera with me either:o

[B-H-P]

Happens to me all the time too. It's my own fault for not carring my camera with me all the time.

[Jon, The Elder]

Hence..The old cliche

Shouda, wouda, couda

[blinktwice]

While Im driving to my house on the freeway I see the full moon, but I cant stop since there is nowhere to stop. Its so close all the time

[Technophile]

driving to work one day i saw the most interesting sunrise. actually it was on the opposite horizon, where a storm front was coming in, and the clouds radiated out from one area over the hills. some distance out from this central area, another cloud structure cut across all the radiating clouds, all of which were lit blue and purple/pink. but, i was driving on the freeway, in traffic, and i would have probably needed an ultra-wide to get the whole shot, and i didnt have my camera with me. it was really cool to see though.

[Packhorse-4]

I miss great photo opportunities all the time. One picture I would love to take is on the highway during rush hour. I don’t think I can safely get the shot though. It’s kind of sad really, but if I’m heading home at just the right time I get a great view with four lanes of headlights curving down a hill with four lanes of taillights heading up the same hill. I used to dread the sight, but now I’ve been thinking of different ways to photograph the scene and I find it makes the drive go by a little easier. Should it be a time delay with streaks of light? Should I try to get the entire scene in focus to show the sheer volume of traffic? Maybe I could focus on one car or one aspect of the road and let the rest of the scene blur into the background…

[PhotosGuy]

I miss great photo opportunities all the time. I never miss opportunities. I was "on a break"! :D Should it be a time delay with streaks of light? Should I try to get the entire scene in focus to show the sheer volume of traffic? Maybe I could focus on one car or one aspect of the road and let the rest of the scene blur into the background… Why not try them all? Film is cheap? ;)

[Packhorse-4]

Ahhh yes, the film is cheap (digital), but I keep thinking that I'll 1) cause and accident by trying to pull into the center median or 2) get a ticket for impeding traffic or stopping without a reason. I recall a story from one of Bryan Peterson’s books describing a similar photo opportunity. Unlike me, he stopped, got the picture, got the ticket, but in the long run, he made more on the photo than the ticket cost him.

[thedjo]

Everyday 4.30 pm The sky always looks awesome from 4th floor in my office. The problem is I don't get off work until 7.
On a clear day I can see Mount Fuji on the West and Mt. Tsukuba on the East....

Just can't wait to be summer so the sun sets later