What's the shot that got away? When you wished you had your camera but didn't?

[Nittersing]

This was prompted by a comment that HAB911 made in a thread... about a shot that is now only lodged in memory because the camera was left behind.

I have two.

1. A dad sent his two young daughters out in the front yard to retrieve their bicycles. They were probably 4/5yo. It was around 6am and they were both buck naked and delightfully giggling and squealing as they ran across the lawn. The lighting was perfect. (Not sure I would have tried the shot if I had my camera with me... but it's a image that lives in my mind}

2. A dad and young daughter heading out on a tandem bicycle. I think they must have just started their ride because the look/smile on the daughters face could have lit up the entire block.

What's the shot you missed?

[samnsara]

1. yesterday I tossed out a flour tortilla that was hanging around in my fridge..

..I tossed it out onto the driveway as there are two ravens who sit in the tree and beg like dogs. One swooped down and grabbed the tortilla and flew off. I tried to snap a photo with my phone but my fat fingers didnt work. It would have been a great TACO shot.

[Nittersing]

7. One day a juvenile cooper's hawk was in my bird bath!!

Last edited Sun Jun 1, 2025, 02:11 PM - Edit history (2)

I ran for my camera but he had hopped out and was on my fence by the time I got back.

(will insert said photo when my hosting site is working properly) Was taken thru front door glass.

link may not work:

[George McGovern]

11. What hosting site do you use Nittersing?

[Nittersing]

12. Fotki

Been using it for years

https://www.fotki.com/Lithuania/en/

[George McGovern]

16. Awesome image Nittersing! Thanks for sharing it with us!

[Beatlelvr]

2. On a game drive on the Serengeti

We were in a Toyota cruiser. Most windows open. We came up to 3 juvenile male lions lying on the road, about 5 feet from our vehicle. I'll never forget the searing stare one of them had for the woman next to me. I wispered, "close the window!" No body moved, including me who had just put my camera down for some reason. Got a shot as we drove away. Awesome trip.

[Nittersing]

8. Yikes!!

I can feel that searing stare!

[Walleye]

3. Visiting a friend on a ranch in New Mexico

I came around the corner in the lane and there was a cinnamon colored black bear. With her cub. The cub ran across in front of me at first, and I thought it was a koala or something and then she came up and looked me right in the eye. If I had a camera, I might’ve been attacked. Before cell phone cameras. I looked at her and tried to communicate woman to woman. I wasn’t gonna hurt her baby and slowly backed off, and she eventually went after the cub.

[Nittersing]

9. Oh what a treat!

A little scary treat!

[EverHopeful]

4. I came home from a dive trip

with many, many pictures of sand where, only nonoseconds before, there had been a barracuda.

Still makes me smile to look through the album remembering their astounding speed and my abject failure.

Decided next time I try I'll just park myself somewhere, point my camera, and wait. I know there are many more worthy goals in life but, really, a barracuda pic is now on my bucket list.

[George McGovern]

6. Thanks EverHopeful for your anecdote! Parking somewhere, point and/or

have your camera handy in your hands, and waiting patiently can enhance chances for a good shot. Now another barracuda might challenge that thinking, unless it would help somewhat to listen to Heart's Barracuda . . .

Besides some goals are worthy in more ways than one.

[Nittersing]

10. LOL. Your first line really did make me laugh out loud

Here's a toast to your bucket list!

[Ritabert]

5. Anchored near Manasquan NJ when a sailboat

....came flying into the anchorage under full sail. We looked on as he sailed right into an area that was 3 feet deep. The sailboat stopped dead and heeled over. Hubby rowed over to help. He took the anchor out into deeper water to kedge the boat over there. Turns out the guy was from Canada and had NO chart books for anywhere in the US. We saw him sitting aground later in Chesapeake Bay as well.

[mike_c]

13. the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen

It was near a wildfire burning in a wilderness in southern Utah so there was smoke in the atmosphere. Stunning sunset! I had my camera, but I was tired after a long day on the road, and I thought "I'll wait until tomorrow." Bad decision. Next evening there wasn't a cloud in the sky and the smoke blew away too.

[HAB911]

14. Oh boy, what a can o' worms

One night in 1970, on the DMZ, I was Charge of Quarters (CQ) for Headquarters Company 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry. CQ was the NCO assigned to stay up all night manning the Company Commander's office That night two North Koreans were killed trying to cross the DMZ and the bodies were brought onto the compound to await an Army ambulance to cart them away. Thankfully I did not see them.

The night was very foggy, and what I saw was the ambulance leaving the compound down a long sloping drive to the Main Supply Route (MSR), small dim red taillights glowing in the dense fog.

It remains a sad poignant snapshot only in my mind. I wish I could adequately share.

There have been a few more missed in the intervening years, but trivial in comparison.

[Nittersing]

15. Thanks HAB

The two I shared about happened within a block of my house, so I see them in my mind on a regular basis, It's always just a pleasant little reminder.

With your description, I could see the ambulance tail lights in the fog. Sad and poignant indeed.

[George McGovern]

17. About a month ago I was standing by the porch and happened to look down.

Right in front of my feet came a very pretty muti-colored probably garten snake slithering silently through the grass. Usually I try and avoid snakes, especially the rattling kind, but this was varicolored and camouflaged and just kept right on going as if I weren't even there. And as he did I thought where's my camera when I need it!?! (Back in the house of course.)