Timing

Timing

The orca was on the move. We knew our time with him would be brief. The
"Big Fin" broke the water. His quick exhale broke the silence of the still
day. The water was thick like mercury. We live for days like this. They
are few and far between. Again a breath and a fin. The orca was getting
closer now. I quickly threw on a 24mm lens. Lu shooting this "Big Fin"
looked like a great shot to me. Her red hair was striking. Her black and
white lens reached out as if to touch the snowcapped mountains. I watched
through the view finder and waited. Up comes the orca… click. I waited.
Again comes the tall black dorsal fin. Click. This orca was moving fast. My
Eye was glued to the viewfinder. The next thing I know I am seeing white.
This was not a fin. This was a breach. I knew I had only an instant to get this
right. Timing is everything. Click. And then came a splash. Everyone on
board screamed with excitement. Captain Jim Barkley yelled from the flying
bridge; "Did anybody get that?" I replied; "I pressed the button." Deep inside
I knew I had a winner. This was the last we saw of the orca. As we made way
along the glassy surround I began to reflect. I remembered one of my favorite
photos; "Sunset Breach" which was taken many years earlier. Then too I only
had one frame to get it right. In these rare moments, being in the right place
at the right time touches my soul. For me, sometimes in an instant...
a moment becomes eternal.