There is so much I learn through photography. And most of the time, it is not about new things. It is about things I thought I understood. Until I knew better.
Yesterday it was about the concept of one of kind.
Armed with my camera, decided to go to a stretch of beach that had more birds than people. Last time I was there I counted at least 5 pelicans, but I did not have the right lens with me, so I could not photograph them.
On the way to the beach, I couldn't resist photographing beautiful red leafs on the pavement. One of them was sitting in a rain puddle that turned the concrete sidewalk into a temporary mirror.
The beach was there, beautiful as ever - but no pelicans. Actually there were very little birds. Mostly seagulls huddling together, couldn't realize why.
Then I saw they start moving in my direction. Not alone. They seemed to gravitate around something. That 'something' turned out to be a woman in a white hat throwing pieces of food (bread?) into the air for the seagulls to catch.
On my way home, I realized that whenever I try to recreate an image I took, I never succeed. Even if I go to the same place, with the same or more suited lens - it never works. and it's not about the equipment or the place or even the same shooting angle. Images capture moments. And moments are one of a kind.
I will never be able to make the same photograph of a red leaf in a puddle. The puddles already dried up. Even when will rain again - the leaf will not be there. The light will be different. I might be looking at something else and miss the puddle.
The lady with bread will not feed the seagulls when I happen to be on the beach.
Nothing lasts forever, and moments can not be reproduced. My lesson for today.
Feeding the seagulls on Santa Monica beach