Lesson (re)learned: The best camera for the shot is the one you have with you….

I always have a camera at hand. You never know….

But this morning, at 7:24 a.m. I was just too rushed – had to drop off my son at school, and get a set of DVD’s delivered to a client before 8. As I headed out the door and reached for my 20D, I realized the batteries were still in the charger, and the CompactFlash chip still in my PC. I hesitated, grabbed my car keys and shot out the door behind my son.

The universe can be a heartless bastard when it has to re-teach you a lesson. Especially if it’s a lesson it’s taught you before, like “If you think of yourself as a photographer, always take your camera. Even for the short trips…”

Driving down our cul de sac I see the most incredible sunlight in the clouds. Perfect grays. Layering not two or three deep, but five visible planes of clouds. All backed by a hazy white orb, and all within about 4 f-stops of each other. I stop. It’s Perfect. I am composing the shot before I realize — no camera. Well, I probably won’t have had the right lens – this shot really would require a 70-200, and I usually keep a 17-40 for walk-around photography. But still… Sigh… I drive on.

I drop off my son, take a couple turns to get heading the right direction for my next stop – and see not 2 or 3,  but 6 – count ‘em SIX – bicyclists riding down an untraveled side street. They are side by side across the whole street. Their arms are stretched out, each resting a hand on the shoulders of the rider on either side. Those on the end have their arms stretched out like wingtips. One perfect row of riding-with-no-hands, ain’t-spring-great, let’s-have-some-fun!

It only lasted a moment. I don’t know if I could have been fast enough to capture it. But still…. no camera… I sigh and drive off.

I drop off the DVDs’ with my client. We make her deadline. She’s happy. I’m happy she’s happy. Life is good again. The day is recovering.

Then I stop by the Good Food store for fresh ground whole wheat flour and yogurt. And there, sitting alone in the parking slot opposite my car — is a Mercedes. In all its glory. The traditional grill. The hood ornament. Not black, but a slightly faded yellow. What’s so special about a clean, old Mercedes?  The FOUR BALES OF HAY strapped perfectly straight on the roof. Empty parking lot. Mercedes. Four bales of hay strapped on with the precision equal to that of the car. Morning light from my back. Even a sky still dark enough to photograph well. The iconic Montana photograph is right before my eyes… Perfect for a down-low shot with the 17-40mm about half-zoomed in. But of course my camera is still at home….

Ah, universe… Why must you be SO CRUEL, so HEARTLESS in (re)teaching me these lessons?

Anyway, I sincerely hope your camera is with you when you meet YOUR four bales of hay today!

Best,

Art

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