What shot hooked you?

[coastalconn]

As many of you know I am an avid bird photographer. I have a shot that hooked me. I had just gotten my DSLR in June 2011 had a cheap 70-300 and was shooting in full auto (yup green mode) This young pair of hawks were sitting by a mud puddle. I managed to grab this shot and it was the beginning of my sleepless nights, wandering around aimlessly in the woods dressed in camo, obsessing over Ospreys and seeing so many species that I never knew were within 2 miles of my house.

I wanted to start a fun thread. It's not about your best shot (although it could be), but your first shot that started you in whatever direction you headed..

 

[480sparky39 38]

The one, single shot that sparked my interest was taken in the late '70s with a Polaroid SX-70 at Glacier National Park. It was of a red leaf sticking up out of the grass. Dammed if I can find that album, but I know I have it somewhere.

 

[EW1066]

THE shot. Hmmmmmm. I guess it would have to be one of the many I took of the horses we had when I was a kid. We had Arabs. When we would let them out of the barn in the morning or evening, they would run the pasture with their heads held high, snorting, with their tails flagging. Their way they moved was very animated and wonderful to watch. Some of the pictures I took mesmerized me. I was amazed that a still photo could capture and convey such motion. IF I were to see those photos now they may not have the same visual impact they had on me back then, but I do remember that I felt like I wanted to take lots of pictures of many things. I love taking pictures of things in motion; planes, boats, kids, animals...you name it. Those first pictures were on film and now reside in photo albums at my mothers house. I haven't looked at them in years. I think I might dig them out next time I'm there.

EDUB

 

[Patriot]

As many of you know I am an avid bird photographer. I have a shot that hooked me. I had just gotten my DSLR in June 2011 had a cheap 70-300 and was shooting in full auto (yup green mode) This young pair of hawks were sitting by a mud puddle. I managed to grab this shot and it was the beginning of my sleepless nights, wandering around aimlessly in the woods dressed in camo, obsessing over Ospreys and seeing so many species that I never knew were within 2 miles of my house.

I wanted to start a fun thread. It's not about your best shot (although it could be), but your first shot that started you in whatever direction you headed..

I can see how that got you started. It is great! I love the expression of the bird in the back.

 

[bratkinson]

What moved me to get an SLR about 40 years ago was the 10th, or maybe 20th image of the inside of my lens cap, while it was still on the viewfinder style fixed lens 35mm Minolta I was using at the time. I finally got fed up with an all black image instead of a properly exposed picture.

Since getting a REAL 35mm SLR (A Canon EF, the predecessor to an AE-1 that had just hit the street and was more than I wanted to spend), I have NEVER taken a lens cap shot since! Makes me wonder, though, what rocket scientist types INTENTIONALLY did that with their brand new 5D iii's earlier this year?

 

[Murasaki]

We have Tobi flying around my house, when I first moved to Kanagawa, they never get low enough to photograph so you have to try and get a nice shot when in flight. I think they are a lovely bird.

 

[spacefuzz]

Mine was a shot of the smithsonian castle building, took it from a funny angle and it just worked. Then I had to figure out how I could make all my photos look that good!