Scene from my backyard today in WNY state. Lots of snow and very cold temperatures since last week. Finally the sun came out! Captured this moment with my Leica M 246 and attached Canon 50/1.2 LTM lens.
There's a lot of worry in San Francisco about the safety of the autonomous Waymo cabs. To me, tourists riding scooters on the sidewalks are a bigger threat to your health and safety. I was almost run over by the guy in the GAP sweatshirt yesterday.
And so she decided.... We have rented this house in Levante for our family Summer vacation. I thought she went too far, but it had to be large, and when did I ever really have a say in such things. We will be joined by all of children, grandchildren. and some other family members. I am looking forward to it. I am sure that shopping for the family's permanent Italian beach house will keep the ladies busy. She is dedicated to that idea.
Again from our room's window in the Rapallo Excelsior Palace Hotel during the same sunrise as previously posted. This time looking Northwest towards Portofino. It was a great moment my Wife and I shared.
1bwana1 wrote:
And so she decided.... We have rented this house in Levante for our family Summer vacation. I thought she went too far, but it had to be large, and when did I ever really have a say in such things. We will be joined by all of children, grandchildren. and some other family members. I am looking forward to it. I am sure that shopping for the family's permanent Italian beach house will keep the ladies busy. She is dedicated to that idea.
Treat it as s an opportunity to chat with some new people and add to your collection of amazing portraits.
Serendipity, do you believe in it? I guess I do. Especially when it comes to my photography. These two images are the first and the last shots of a few hours out shooting. When I am out wandering around I sometimes see settings that I think would make for good images. There is nothing happening in them so not a good opportunity at that moment. So, I shoot an image, and make note of the location so I can check back when something interesting may be happening. Of ten I try different compositions of the scene so I can more quickly frame an image in the future. This is exactly what I was doing when these two shots were made.
In the first image I was concentration on framing the stairs as a leading element. I do shoot through the viewfinder with both eyes open. As I was trying compositions this woman and her dog came into frame and I managed to get two frames off. Only one had both subjects in it. In order to be in this position, the woman had to walk up a set of stairs, and across the landing, then down the other side. Whatever is in the building was closed. No reason on Earth do do that but it happened. We never even acknowledged each other. Pure serendipity.
The second image is a doorway leading past the mail boxes of in an elegant small hotel across from the Parma Duomo. I had never looked inside but decided to look for opportunity. When I saw this scene I thought it had potential. Again, no activity. So, once again I tried to pre envision compositions with various lenses for possible future use. In the middle of this a woman in a "Indiana Jones Meets Guggi" outfit exited through the doorway. She saw me, paused for a second, and gave a look just as I clicked the shutter, and continued on her way hurried way, with car keys (?) in hand.
Two Images. Opposite ends of the day. Only one unexpected opportunity each. No credit can be taken. Pure serendipity. I am a believer.
Love your photos here @1bwana1 Don't see why you should disown them as 'serendipity'. As you describe, you did a lot of work to prepare for serendipity.
And the earlier one, the view north to Portofino, is just a classic.
All of them beautifully executed and processed. Thanks for sharing.
I do appreciate the premise of serendipity, but it ONLY OCCURS, when you are "out there" and doing the things that have your actions and mind attuned in a way that recognition occurs. Finding an explanation for things that seemingly weren't expected to happen ... yeah, that we sometimes may never know / understand.
BUT, the ability to be there ... means you had to have the ooomph to get off your duff and get out there, when there wasn't a specifically, "obvious" reason. Imo, THIS is the start of Serendipity ... it's kinda like fishing and landing a nice one that you didn't even know was in the lake. But, the only way it ever happens, is that YOU had to first put yourself out there, in position for something to happen.
THEN, you had to have the skills to recognize / frame / capture ... not unlike the difference between a fisherman that lands that (unanticipated) nice catch, and the story of a (surprise) whopper that got away.
So, yeah ... I believe in serendipity. For me, it's more like "preparendipity".
If you hit up Wikipedia for Serendipity, you'll find that it is in reference to a location of Serendip (Sri Lanka / Ceylon) of individuals who were sagacious in their endeavors. Sagacious then being the attribute of keen perception / discernment (from the Latin of Sagax), or highly observant, etc.
Those who make their own luck ... get the most luck.
But, in reality, it isn't luck at all ... it is an attribute of keen perception, which stems from the multitude of experience and advance preparedness that sharpens one so keenly.
By positioning ourselves in places of observability, we provide an opportunity to ourselves to demonstrate our keen perception, whenever / wherever they may occur.
Serendipity = Yes. But, it isn't some "Gee, I just got lucky for something that happened ... and I can't explain the how / why rationale." Rather, it is I'm a keen observer to what does happen. Which all starts with getting "out there", and then being sharply disciplined to observation, as well as prepared to execution.
Here's an older one of mine that I consider to be in the realm of serendipity.
I do appreciate the premise of serendipity, but it ONLY OCCURS, when you are "out there" and doing the things that have your actions and mind attuned in a way that recognition occurs. Finding an explanation for things that seemingly weren't expected to happen ... yeah, that we sometimes may never know / understand.
BUT, the ability to be there ... means you had to have the ooomph to get off your duff and get out there, when there wasn't a specifically, "obvious" reason. Imo, THIS is the start of Serendipity ... it's kinda like fishing and landing a nice one that you didn't even know was in the lake. But, the only way it ever happens, is that YOU had to first put yourself out there, in position for something to happen.
THEN, you had to have the skills to recognize / frame / capture ... not unlike the difference between a fisherman that lands that (unanticipated) nice catch, and the story of a (surprise) whopper that got away.
So, yeah ... I believe in serendipity. For me, it's more like "preparendipity".
If you hit up Wikipedia for Serendipity, you'll find that it is in reference to a location of Serendip (Sri Lanka / Ceylon) of individuals who were sagacious in their endeavors. Sagacious then being the attribute of keen perception / discernment (from the Latin of Sagax), or highly observant, etc.
Those who make their own luck ... get the most luck.
But, in reality, it isn't luck at all ... it is an attribute of keen perception, which stems from the multitude of experience and advance preparedness that sharpens one so keenly.
By positioning ourselves in places of observability, we provide an opportunity to ourselves to demonstrate our keen perception, whenever / wherever they may occur.
Serendipity = Yes. But, it isn't some "Gee, I just got lucky for something that happened ... and I can't explain the how / why rationale." Rather, it is I'm a keen observer to what does happen. Which all starts with getting "out there", and then being sharply disciplined to observation, as well as prepared to execution.
Here's an older one of mine that I consider to be in the realm of serendipity.
Yep, you can work hard a position yourself to take advantage of any opportunity. But it is serendipity that often makes the shot in street photography.
Or in this case Keith it is a blazing hot sun that neither humans nor black cats can tolerate. It seems that white cats know how to dress for that environment.
