So for the first time I can remember I did not go down to the beach for Memorial Day weekend. I thought I would have withdrawal but I think the sand in my camera and lens (which is still in the shop) gave me the nostalgic feeling (and pricey reality) that the beach is never too far away.
It was so nice to stay local, but I realized how naked I felt without my camera. There were photo ops everywhere and I missed them all. My initial thought was I take my camera everywhere, capture kids, families so there is no need to bring my backup camera. I can just sit back and relax for the day. What I have found is that photography is so personal. Every image I saw in front of me that day others might not have. A friend invited us to her home to watch the parade. There were 32 kids lined up on a curb in front of her home dressed in red, white and blue, headbands, tattoos, flags, etc. As I tried to enjoy the parade I just couldn't help but notice the hundred different ways to take the amazing shot of these kids, the band, the house, etc. So many options passing me by (along with the parade). The parade was over and we moved back to the yard. OK, so I didn't get a lot of photos, I have all summer, right?
As I relaxed in the yard I saw lots of shirtless boys (most of them pasty white since this was the first 85 degree day we had since last summer) chasing each other with waterguns at the same time there is a massive water balloon flight going on (all the colors you can imagine being thrown at each other). I saw boys with mischevious smiles hiding behind a tree aiming for their target. The result brought laughter to the older kids or tears to the younger one who sadly either dropped their balloon or were the target of the water balloon explosion. Looking around I kept thinking I hope someone is capturing this on camera. The following day we went to an impromptu barbecue at another friends home. We sat in the shade from a great vantage point where the kids were below us and the views were amazing of the mountains. Not one camera about....sigh.
So my friends, as though it might have appeared that I had the weekend off with my camera and it was my turn to relax. I didn't. All around me were lost opportunities to freeze frame one of the most enjoyable Memorial Days I have had in a long time.
