"Pickles" and 'The One That Got Away"

[Barbsjoy]

Hi all I am a fairly new member here on the website and forums.

This weekend while out doing everyday tasks, have just recently been taking my camera everywhere and taking pictures when opportunity arises. While driving the country roads of Illinois, I found myself in two completely different scenarios. I found myself wondering what some of you may have encountered in your pursuit of "the shot", either as beginners or as experienced/professional photographers. I would like to hear from all of you, some of the pickles you have gotten yourselves in while trying to get a shot, and/or an opportunity you let slip by and didn't get the one shot that you still think about.


Both instances happened to me this weekend...

First what I call a pickle! I situation I could not get out of all by myself. Sunday morning, sun rising...me up and looking for a new opportunity to catch it. I knew where I was, driving sensibly, plenty of time. I saw a sign open for public tours...real estate for sale, an area I wouldn't normally be allowed to enter...I enter and am driving through the area, seeing white tail deer, raccoon, indigo buntings, an animal I still not sure what it was, then a body of water, thinking sunrise reflection, I set out to find my way to a closer vantage point.

Before I knew it I was at the bottom of a hill on a road, at that point I could no longer travel, due to a creek. I sat and took in my surroundings for a bit, turned around and set out to go back up the hill...I couldn't get back up the hill...

The hill was covered in thick big white gravel, my wheels just spun out, there was no getting up this hill without help.

It's 5:45 am in the morning...my husband is still working a night shift...I am out in the middle of the country, not sure if I can explain to anyone where I am...let alone if I know anyone, that can come and pull me up a hill. Mind you all, this vehicle has been in the Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountains on some very steep inclines/climbs and have always been able to negotiate them...but here I am stuck in flat farmland area of Illinois and can't make it up a hill!

Talk about embarrassing, well after calling a few people...at 5:45 - 6:00 am on a Sunday morning (thank goodness for cell phones), I good ole boy farmer in his truck came out and pulled me up the hill....I did have to walk back 2 miles for him to find me, and to top it all off, there was a storm rolling in from the west, thunder rumbling, warning me in advance, in the end...never got my sunrise reflection, but learned a valuable lesson...scout out my locations in advance and make sure I can get out, if I go in!


And now the missed opportunity...driving through the Illinois country roads again, this time it is a Saturday afternoon.

I spot a dust cropper flying over the fields, I find a road to get closer, thinking about the "Move On" assignment, knowing it is over, but none the less, thinking about it, and getting some fantastic shots, and really pleased with all of it.

A farmer and his son pull up to me and we chat about the pilot and the amazing flying, photography, etc. Then the farmer realizes he and his son could have a better vantage point and they take off...

I decide to move on as the "dusting" is getting closer and I need to get out of the way. As I am driving down the road...I see a barn yard to my left...right there...the farmers truck is parked...and as I zip by, I look up...

and there are father and son, in the highest point of the barn, looking out the window sun shining on them, sun is just right, it is an amazing picture!

But I didn't stop, to shy to intrude on their moment is what I told myself as I slowed, thought about it, went a couple of miles, kicking myself, why didn't I stop, actually turned around and went back, hoping to catch them, holler up ask them if I can take a shot or two of them...but it's too late, I hesitated too long, they were gone the window was shut, the barn locked up and the dust cropper was gone...all...as it seemed a ghost of just a few moments ago...did it happen...can't prove it I never got the shot...but I did get the pilot and the plane and the dust cropping...

What did I learn... be bolder...the opportunity passes quickly...don't be shy...create a card to hand out, so they know I am serious/practicing to become professional...

A third lesson...while the photos I did get or didn't get...I will always remember, but I also keep learning photography is about the journey, not just the end result.

Would love to hear of some of your journeys...to and out of some of the "pickles" you have gotten yourselves into and that missed shot you will never forget!

Thanks
Barb L

[dcclark]

Oh boy, do I ever know about pickles!

A lot of my favorite photos come from rather extreme locations... old mine ruins, buried deep in the woods, generally in a severe state of disrepair. It can be tricky to get yourself in to some of those ruins (especially the ones where the floors have rotted out), but it can be even worse to get yourself back out. Despite the fact that I love mine sites, I have a recurring nightmare of falling into a mine and being stuck where nobody can possibly find me (note that I don't go into them normally -- that's just asking for it). Know your surroundings, kids!

Just this weekend, I was hunting for an extremely lost mine (i.e. one that left almost nothing behind to find). It was at the base of a 300-foot tall cliff, and while following an old cart path, I kept getting higher and higher up into the cliff face. Eventually I had to start going over rocks and up rock scrambles just to go in the direction which I (thought) I should go. Sure enough, I found the mine -- a hole in the ground surrounded by very old barbed wire. Now, it is a universal truth that climbing up is much easier than climbing down, and it's no easier when one of your ways back down is blocked by a very unstable hole in the ground. I had to do some very careful climbing down the rocks, avoiding any suspicious looking cracks or gaps between the rocks, and always staying on the biggest rocks (which were most likely to be stable). It was pretty freaky.

I'd normally go with someone else, but this weekend I was on my own. Not a smart choice.

As far as driving, I've learned to leave my car by the side of the road at the first hint of a tough drive -- I've been stuck too many times to count.

Missed opportunities -- isn't it amazing how hard it is to just stop and take a photo sometimes? It's a form of self-consciousness, I think. I do it too: will people think I'm being nosy? Am I intruding on someone's privacy? Will people just look and think I'm weird? Strangely enough, those things still bother me. I think that the only way to get past it is just to force yourself to do it once or twice. People are amazingly friendly for the most part, if you approach them in a nice way.

[Barbsjoy]

Thanks David...you are kind of scaring me though. Sounds like your search for subject can be very exciting and a bit dangerous. Sometimes it is just isn't convenient to take someone else out with you, but always adds another element. Please be careful out there!

Also good to know that the apprehension about asking is something that others deal with. As you said, I guess I just have to get up the nerve to ask and do it. It's definitely something I will have to work on.

Thanks for your reply and your experiences.

Barb

[dcclark]

Well, the best advice I can give about the sort of exploring I do (mine ruins, or old ruined locations in general) is to Know Your Stuff. Be familiar with the way things work, common signs of danger (what does a weak floor look like? is that stairway likely to be dangerous?), and just general common sense. Don't put yourself in a situation where you're not prepared to understand and react.