I love when you have waited patiently for a shot, and it actually comes together. I think many people fail to wait for their shot to happen, and therefore miss the moment. For instance, in this shot I saw the man with the cart walking alongside the train at the same time the dog was approaching this spot. I had been watching this dog for five minutes and knew that it stopped to scratch with some frequency. All I needed was for the moustached soldier to remain stationary and I knew it was a matter of time before the ‘moment’ would happen.
My philosophy is to always be aware of what is going on around you. That way you can often pre-empt when a good shot is about to happen.
You’ve seen this gorgeous Labradoodle before in this photo, but I thought it high time she made another appearance. She’s such an expressive dog and always has a happy smile on her face. She just LOVES her humans to bits, which can be seen so obviously from her images.
Thanks to everyone who has already ordered Gift Cards. I thought I’d present another of the photos featured in the series so you can get a good look. Once all orders are in by 24 July 2008 I will mail out the packs in bulk. Thanks for your support.
Ariel is a local of O’Connor in Canberra, Australia. When I first met her I was in the area for coffee with friends. She was just wandering around and I thought she was lost so I checked the nametag on her collar. It said, “Hi my name is Ariel. I’m not lost.” Evidently, she’s a free spirit who can come and go as she pleases.
Over the year that I visited the precinct I came to know that Ariel came from the Cafe and Art Gallery directly behind her in this photo. I would often find her relaxing in the sun on the sofa, sitting at a patrons feet while they played chess out the front, and in winter curled up on one of the armchairs inside. She was a very laid back girl, but I could often coax her into a makeshift game of fetch. In this shot, we played with a stick no longer than my small finger. I think she looks like she’s smoking a cigar.
If you haven’t figured it out already, I have a number of real passions. The first two are quite obvious…I love photography and I love dogs. The other passion of mine, which actually led me into photography, is travelling. I am never happier than when I am travelling.
No matter where I am in the world, as long an I’m experiencing something new, I am in an almost perpetual state of bliss. I’ve found this to be true whether I am enjoying a coffee and croissant on a sidewalk in Prague; attempting to explain to the Indian man on the train why I don’t have a husband with me; or floating down the River Nile on a Felucca.
As I get older (and perhaps wiser) I’m really starting to enjoy the journey. Every day I strive to put the destination to the back of my mind and focus on the process. I think this video sums it up perfectly. Thanks to George for bringing it to my attention. We really do get our inspiration in the most unlikely of places. Louis Vuitton? Who would have thought it?
I’m not sure that this fellow was all that impressed with me taking his photograph. Well…I wasn’t taking his photo, he just happened to walk into my shot!
