Don't you hate it when you miss a shot?

[CaraRose]

So I went to a forest preserve nearby at lunch. I'm walking on the trail when about 4 robins come flying by, I look up and a Cooper's Hawk is coming straight towards me with a robin in its talons. No time to react, by the time I had my camera up he was gone behind the trees.

Doh!

[Eric D]

happens a lot to me as well.....hit or miss with this hobby!!!

[mjs1973]

Yup, but for me, half the fun is just being out in nature. Seeing and experiencing things that most people will never see is pretty cool. A great photo is the icing on the cake. Sometimes I only go out with my G9, other times I don't have any camera. Sure I see some things that I wish I could have captured, but hey, I still got to see it. That counts for something.

[CaraRose]

Having it fly right over my head so I could clearly see the robin it was clutching was pretty darn cool.

Just wish I could have gotten the oncoming shot.

Of course, knowing my fast skills, it probably would have been rather blurry

[Jaedon]

the good news is you saw it. If you are not seeing it you will not be ready next time. Now you have been given a warning shot from mother nature to always be on guard =)

[Canyon Hiker]

Cara, I feel your pain. If I only a dollar for each of my missed or blurry shots, I'd be rich :}
At least you have the memory of it...next time you will be ready for it.

Darin

[billy320]

I was in my front yard walking my dog and a Northern Goshawk came swooping by and landed in a pine tree in my neighbors yard, I run inside get my tripod and camera go to a spot where I can see the raptor in clear view. I set everything up get the raptor in focus and just as I was about to click the shot one of the neighbors kids comes running up shouting what are you taking a picture of. The goshawk takes off never to be seen again.

:mad2: :cryin:

[Frog]

I'm don't shoot a lot of n/w but missed shots happen shooting people, landscapes and just about everything else too.
There is one picture you did catch, Cara. Its in your head and you'll probably be able to see it forever.
The one that bugs me is seeing a little girl sitting on a bench outside of a tavern in town, bent at the waist looking into the brightly lit tavern for her dad. A sad pic for sure but one that would have said a lot.
If we keep shooting though, well miss fewer.

[Loupey]

Like Frog stated, missing a shot occurs with every type of photography.

Having it fly right over my head so I could clearly see the robin it was clutching was pretty darn cool.

From what you're describing, chances are that if you did have your camera with you at the time you probably would have been looking down to get the camera ready and the whole scene would have been lost - both to you and your camera.

Sometimes, it's better to take one rather than none

[Singletracklovr]

I feel your pain Cara.
I have a small group of Doves that roost in a backyard tree. Hawks come and chase them. I've yet to get a shot.

Do you preset your camera's settings based on the type of area you are walking in?
I seem to always have the wrong lens on or camera set for a different type of shot.

[mjs1973]

I had something happen this morning that made me think of this thread.

I was sitting on the ground maybe 75' from one of my nest boxes, trying to determine who was going to be using it. After sitting there for about 45 minutes, a pair of bluebirds came by. The female landed on top of the box, the male in a nearby tree. It wasn't long, and they took off. About 15 minutes later a black capped chickadee came by to check it out. After inspecting the box, it flew to a tree just to my right along with 3-4 other chickadees. A few moments later it is in the tree about 2 feet from my head. I could have filled the frame with the tiny bird with a 100mm lens. I had my 170-500mm lens mounted on the tripod just inches from my face but it was focused on the nest box. I knew I couldn't get a shot so I sat as still as I could. One of the chickadees tried to land on my lens hood, but couldn't get a grip so it went back into the tree by my head. A few seconds later, it landed on my shoulder! It took a couple little hops up higher on my shoulder then flew to some brush behind me. This tiny little bird was about 6" from my face!

[CaraRose]

LOL, Mike!