Do you remember the one that got away?

[PJRiley]

Years ago, I was looking out my back window when a pair of screech owls peeked out of the old tree in my yard. I'm a big owl fan, and had never seen a screech owl in the wild. I had no camera anywhere in sight and missed those shots. That was 15 years ago and I've never seen a screech owl since.
I am now never without a camera, even a p&s.
What's the best shot you ever missed?

 

[Kin Lau]

Oddly enough, also an owl. A Great Grey Owl flew across the field and by me at less than 6ft away. No camera on me either.

 

[oftheherd]

I have mentioned a few times here that I don't take photos as often nor as seriously as I did before we had a house fire something over 15 years ago. Mostly now it is snapshots of my family and just going out to test "new" cameras I purchase on the 'bay.

I used to be able to reel of several "great" photos I had missed. Right now I can't think of any. I don't know whether to be happy or sad.

Well, I do carry a camera more often now.

 

[Pherdinand]

When i'm not shooting, there are no shots to be missed. 🙂
sorry couldn't resist.

 

[doitashimash1te]

Last year, in the Spring, perfect weather, I was walking in Amsterdam city center, in one of the small alleys between Dam Square and Nieuwezijds, and while I was reloading my M6 two Hells Angels were approaching me. They were both big guys, tattoos 'n all, and the biggest of the two was holding a big bouquet of flowers.

That could have been a killer shot! And the light was fantastic! But what can you do with an empty camera... :bang:

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Some time ago, a lady in Nuremberg, walking with her equally short and wide dog. It was one of those in which you see pet and owner and think they're related.

Even a longer time ago... at the steps of the library of the Univ. of Illinois Champaign-Urbana there are some gargoyles on stands, holding their heads in their hands as if suffering or crying. One day, there was one girl sitting next to a gargoyle in almost the exact same position. She didn't look happy... and neither did the gargoyle! 🙂

Back then, I didn't have a camera... Boy, did I wish I had one! 😱

 

[sweathog]

This thread reminds of two of the blogs I read:
http://www.unphotographable.com/
http://www.thephotographsnottaken.com/

 

[Pherdinand]

Last year, in the Spring, perfect weather, I was walking in Amsterdam city center, in one of the small alleys between Dam Square and Nieuwezijds, and while I was reloading my M6 two Hells Angels were approaching me. They were both big guys, tattoos 'n all, and the biggest of the two was holding a big bouquet of flowers.

That could have been a killer shot! And the light was fantastic! But what can you do with an empty camera... :bang:

Well, not a real hells angel, but th rest is fitting your story 🙂

 

[Senecabud]

Yes, forever it seems.

 

[iamzip]

Last Christmas, I had actually just purchased my Holga, which is what brought me back to film. My then 10 month old daughter was sitting on my cousin's lap. My cousin was looking down at my daughter, and my daughter leaned her head straight back and looked up at my cousin. I quickly raised the Holga to my face and snapped a picture, and...

Well, I'd only really had experience with SLRs up to that point, and on an SLR since you look through the lens, you can't really accidently leave the lens cap on.

It almost ruined my Christmas.

 

[Skeletor]

I quickly raised the Holga to my face and snapped a picture, and...

Well, I'd only really had experience with SLRs up to that point, and on an SLR since you look through the lens, you can't really accidently leave the lens cap on.

A lens cap on a Holga? What are you afraid of?
Scratching the Lens?
Pictures ony could get more "character" of doing so.😉

 

[Bob Michaels]

Last month I am in downtown Orlando playing with my new CV 25mm when I spy an old friend. Tim is an "urban outdoorsman" who makes a reasonable living standing at traffic lights with a sign "Why lie, I need a drink". We are talking and I'm making a few photos of him when a car stops. I take down my camera as I never want to spook any of his financial supporters.

The tinted window in the car rolls down but instead of a dollar, a nice looking young lady hands him a cold beer and the window immediately goes back up as she drives away. The look on his face was priceless. And it all happened in less than a second while I was holding the camera and missed the shot.

 

[colyn]

Last year, in the Spring, perfect weather, I was walking in Amsterdam city center, in one of the small alleys between Dam Square and Nieuwezijds, and while I was reloading my M6 two Hells Angels were approaching me. They were both big guys, tattoos 'n all, and the biggest of the two was holding a big bouquet of flowers.

Had you taken the shot you might have found the camera lodged in a place where you didn't want it..😱😱😱

 

[Jan Van Laethem]

Some 25 years ago, when I was waiting for a train in Brussels Central Station. A woman with two kids walked towards me, carrying a baby in her right arm, a small suitcase in her left hand and a young girl of maybe 4 years holding onto her mother's dress and trying to keep up. A shaft of light just picked them out, beautiful coloured dress and expressions on all three faces. Of course, I didn't have a camera with me. This scene still remains vivid in my mind.

Some 5 years ago in Paris, a man walking down a street dressed almost exactly as the character portrayed over the entrance of a bar, which represented a cat in a suit. Missed the shot because I had just stored my camera in a so-called "ever-ready case".

And more recently in Asis, Italy. A monk walking into a pizza take-away, the logo over the entrance depicting a monk. I was just changing film when I spotted him, but missed the shot. I waited some 10 minutes for him to come out again, but being on an organized tour meant time was too short.

Too many memories of missed shots. I now always carry a camera with me, never use those never-ready cases again and plan my own tours and time. :bang:

 

[Roger Hicks]

Near Tours: flooding. Muddy brown water everywhere.

EXCEPT in a drained swimming pool: clean, blue tiles. The floodwater was maybe 15cm/6 inches below the lip (parapet, brick surround, whatever) of the swimming pool.

Pure surrealism.

No camera.

Aaaargh!

R.

 

[ruby.monkey]

A brilliant sunset over Battersea Bridge, the whole sky burning red and gold...
An old gentleman filling his pipe near Victoria Coach Station...
A gentleman jet-washing the pavement, back-lit by the morning sun...
Early morning sun shining on a frosty bus-stop, passengers perfectly silhouetted...
Workmen guiding a crane-load of brightly coloured scaffolding poles...

I remember plenty that got away because I had no camera with me, or no time to shoot. I take comfort from the fact that seeing each triggered a physical response in me - I may have missed the opportunities, but at least I'm getting better at recognising them.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I was walking downtown a couple of weeks ago and this car pulled up nearby to wait for a traffic light...there were a couple of young black men riding in the car, and they were listening to music really loudly...and there was this insane old white guy coming toward me along the sidewalk, and all of a sudden he turns to the young guys and yells, "Why don't ya TURN IT UP?!!?" And the guys say, "WHAT?!?" and the old man says it again, "Why don't ya TURN IT UP!!!!!" The guys in the car were utterly stunned for like a second before they started berating the old guy, and in that second it was a perfect picture...the old man with his fist in the air and his wild white hair, and the guys in the car, framed by the driver's side window, slumped there with their mouths hanging open.

I had a camera dangling from my neck and still missed the shot.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

We came home on Sunday to see a herd of Deer taking a break in our Front Yard. The Little ones were laying down, looked like Bambi.

The week before, an Immature Owl parked himself in a tree 50ft outside of the front door. I had my Nikon F2 with 300/4.5 out and fired off half a roll. The owl posed for me.