So much of life is based on luck. Luck of being born into a successful family. Luck of getting into the right college. Luck of finding a great spouse. Luck of having a bartender who knows how to make a great Old Fashioned. Luck of getting to the post office when there is no line. Making it to work with no red lights. Making that excellent menu choice.
But with some forethought and preparation, we can increase the chances of our outcomes being positive. Having that spare tire ready. Leaving the house a little bit early. Being kind to the neighbors and strangers who might repay the kindness at the exact moment it’s needed.
I had a moment of good fortune recently when I spotted a pinball machine that I was looking for on Craigslist. I just happened to go online 23 minutes after the machine was posted. The guy accepted my offer and I was lucky enough to be communicating with a stand-up guy who held the machine until I could drive down to Massechuttes the next weekend to pick it up, despite getting other offers for it.
The same holds true for those times I was in the right place at the right time for photographs. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve photographed something only to see it torn down the next time I’ve driven past.
Put yourself in the right place enough times and you’ll get those amazing clouds. Or simply plan ahead, knowing the day will come when you can capture something amazing.
Every day we hit a string of situations that can go one way or another. Good luck or bad luck.
It’s tough to create such luck on a vacation with limited time at each spot on an itinerary. You either have to move fast when you see something or just realize that you won’t be able to capture someplace in the right light.
I like it best when we rent a cabin or cottage someplace so we have the entire week or so to search out a subject and then be able to think through the best way to capture it’s essence while waiting for great light or clouds.
