Monday, June 4, 2012

Classic image of a heart breaking war scene...


Photo of 'napalm girl" from Vietnam War turns 40

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Modern Day Sand Lot Kids


Mid May, 2012-I was walking out of Target a couple of days ago and happened to glance up, seeing copious amounts of black smoke billowing up across highway 70. Camera in hand I tore out just knowing I was about to capture my pulitzer prize winning image. I battled rush hour traffic across Zumbehl with my hand having to send out  feathered friend signals at times when I perceived infractions on another drivers part.

Finally I arrived near the scene and parked in the awesome Governors Place subdivision in St Charles. Down the hill I went and there I stopped. There stood what looked like a cliff leading down to the railroad tracks to the drama. Knowing I couldn't make the trek down the hillside w/o some damage to my body.  Sandals on my feet and no tennis shoes in the car, hindered this little outing. I asked another onlooker what was going on and she responded "there was a warehouse burning but not a house" none too sadly.

I'm a little ashamed to admit it out loud, but I too was looking for that significant image, of people being saved from a burning building. That special shot of a firefighter scampering up his ladder saving a screaming victim just in the nick of time.

 A Pulitzer Prize winning shot was not captured that day but I did get a fun shot of my newest and coolest friends, the Sandlot Kids,  in Governors Place.

Seems the opportunity to photograph is always in the most unexpected places.

June 2, 2012-A couple of weeks later here I am getting ready to get on the highway when traffic comes to a dead stop. Seems there is an accident on the overpass. Oh no here we go again. I start salivating knowing that pulitzer prize winning image is once again  within my reach.

I had to get in another lane to make the turn, immediately getting a reaction from another driver for my perceived lack of driving etiquette. Of course being the mature person I am, I needed to return the same feathered friend hand signal back to her. I'm sure it looked rather funny, 2 ladies of a certain age flipping each other off.

I'm thinking maybe I should start blowing kisses at people, would that make them less or more angry?

Well anyway I had my trusted friend right beside me in the front seat ready to capture the drama at hand. Did I get that image of the MVA victim being extradited from their mangled vehicle?

Nope they completely stopped traffic with me being 5 cars back too far to catch the action.
The only images I was able to capture were none too exciting.

What have I learned from the above escapades? Always keep tennis shoes in the car, my camera at my side and keep on trying. Who knows,  one day that Pulitzer Prize might be within my reach!

Nobody says it better then one of my favorite writers, Mark Twain. "Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist but you have ceased to live"