You’ve got to be prepared for the unexpected, especially in photography. I’ve missed so many great opportunities because I didn’t have my focus correct, forgot to reset the camera, etc…. But I do have some lucky shots, and since Sofia has requested to see some, here they are. I’m sure I’ve posted many of these before, so I hope you enjoy a rerun.

Now this may not seem lucky to you, but I’ve waited to get a picture of a big black bee. Now how lucky could I get?

Isn’t it wonderful to find love and serenity by the ocean. This lucky couple was enjoying time together in a field of ice plant.

Oh my what an itch! Just my luck to have my camera ready and a goat with need for a long scratch.

Was I lucky to have this clown photo bomb my shot at the Sonora County fair? I think so!

Talk about timing. This mare had just birthed this colt. While I wasn’t quite ready when the colt was trying to stand, they did come out of the bushes in time for me to catch the colt nursing. I did see the mare give birth in the bushes. Sometimes our memories are the best camera.

This was taken at the Sacramento Zoo before the bird flu epidemic and while the flamingos were still outside. I was talking to a docent while this bird was trying to sleep. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw it open one eye. Snap! It’s a good thing I have excellent peripheral vision, I had to do a heavy crop in post.

I’m not a birder, but sometimes I do get lucky and a surprise to boot. I didn’t know I got this hawk in flight until I processed the image. Again–heavy cropping.

Talk about surprise. This was taken at the Living Desert Botanical Gardens and Zoo in Palm Desert. It was a sight to see giraffes come down a hill at the beginning of sundown. I managed to get a picture of this one.

I’ve learned to take the shot, ready or not. Hopefully you’ll get another opportunity quickly when you are more ready. If not, there’s a lot that can be done in post processing. And, you can always press the delete key. Thanks Sofia for helping us to realize that while luck plays an important part in our photo journey, it’s seeing the opportunity that makes the difference. When you reply, please remember to link to Sofia’s original post and use the Lens-Artists tag.

We all learned more about composition thanks to Patti’s challenge last week. I found I was following her suggestions without knowing it! Next week, look for John’s post as he leads the challenge. In the meantime, stay safe and be resilient.