"Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get." - Dale Carnegie As photographers we survey a scene, analyze the light, test different angles, and work with the equipment on hand. Rarely do we have all the tools we need - for example, on a hike, opting for less weight, a tripod might be left behind. We constantly make trade offs - choosing whether to blow out highlights to expose for shadows in high contrast scenes or to lose detail in shadows when we expose for highlights. Dale Carnegie's quote explains this tension perfectly. A couple of weekends ago while up at Fallen Leaf Lake, we went up to the local falls. I opted for safety over extra equipment - I'm a klutz. Without a tripod the slowest shutter speed I could get was 1/25 - lower and camera shake was evident even though I was braced against a couple of rocks.

Today started out with such promise. A gorgeous sunny day - an opportunity to drive the 1.25 hrs to work with the convertible top down through the foothills to the coast. Sometimes, however, things don't go as planned. About 20 miles after I start out on my drive, a shiny object falls towards me. Seconds later, car shaking, smell of burning plastic wafting through the air, and plans are derailed. Flip on hazard lights, slow from just over 65 MPH while looking behind and to the right, praying that no one is going to rear-end me while I try to get off the road, and safely pull into the left-hand shoulder. Quickly get out of the car to see what's happened and discover right tire is shredded (see photo). Hop back in car, put up convertible top and call help. 10:26 am: Leave home. 10:35 am: Fill up the gas tank, open up the convertible top, and hit the road. 10:57 am: Call USAA Roadside Assist. 11:08 am: Call work to say not coming in today. 11:13 am: Tow truck estimates they'll...

"Nothing will work unless you do." - Maya Angelou The opportunity to learn exists everywhere - we just need to open ourselves to it and let it in. Last night a wish of mine to see a fashion photographer at work was granted. His humbleness and unwavering focus were amazing to watch. My single response to a portrait of Thomas he took with an iPhone was Wow. Politely he asked if he could take Thomas's and my photo. I immediately said yes-he guided me expertly through his choice of settings and then confidently rearranged lights to achieve a dramatic balance. Two photos were all that it took to capture a romantic moment. Minutes later the image was transfered to my laptop and finished in Photoshop. Below is my favorite portrait of Thomas and me - taken by John Paul Hoogasian.