This edition of the blog took very little effort to write, you could say it kind of wrote itself.

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock this past week, you will at least have noted a reference to an assassination attempt on a US presidential candidate.
I’m not going to begin to explore the rights, wrongs, or political implication of that event.

No doubt also you’ll have seen some photos from that afternoon. Or you may have been doomscrolling to find all the wide-eyed conspiracy theories that suddenly sprung up.

One photo caught my interest. And is the subject of the remainder of the blog.

It is on the cover of TIme Magazine. It was taken by photographer Evan Vucci.

I managed to hear an interview on radio with Mr Vucci, and try as I might I haven’t been able to locate that interview online.
The part that caught me up, was the interviewer asked “Was it a ‘lucky’ shot?”
And he replied…

….“I started thinking, OK, what’s going to happen next? Where is he going to go? Where do I need to be? Where do I need to stand? What is going to happen?”
“The job is all about anticipation,” Vucci says.

“It was a situation where that vast experience absolutely does [prepare you]. To have that experience behind you sort of allows you to remain calm. It wasn’t the first time I was in that situation. So I was able to keep my head, I was able to think. I was able to compose pictures. I think all of us were there and we just stayed in the moment, stayed on the story. In my head, I just kept saying to myself, ‘slow down, slow down. Compose, compose.’ Okay, what’s gonna happen next? What’s going on here? What’s going on there? Just trying to get every angle on it.’

“In the moment it’s weird because your brain is basically shut off. You’re just thinking about, ‘Okay, what’s my composition, or where’s light coming from? Is my exposure good?’ Do I need to move to the right? Do I need to move to the left?’ Because you got to be able to see his face. So when he started pumping his fist, I was surprised. And then I saw the blood on his face. And then I knew once I saw that, I knew I had at least a news storytelling image. I knew I had something. So I felt good. At least something was in the bag.”

“I work for AP. You know, we have a long history of photojournalism. And so I think when you’re at this level, and something like this happens to you, you’re able to react a certain way and expect[ed] to produce. I was just thankful that I was able to hold that standard.”

No doubt you can find many links to the story. Here’s the Time Magazine Cover and some of his other quotes.

Please be aware there are many pictures on the site, and I don’t want to add to the horror.

But hidden in there is the mantra.

• The Mantra.
  • Know your composition
  • Where is the light coming from
  • Is my Exposure good
  • Do I need to move left or right
  • Slow down
  • Keep your head
  • Think. What’s going to happen next.

Something to think about next time I’m out in the field and a great photo opportunity presents itself. Will I be ready?

Now, two Brown Falcons at play rebuilding their pair bond, might never make it to Time magazine. Nor will it fit into the same hall of fame as Evan Vucci. But some of the principles from the Mantra were at work when I made the shot.

The two birds are back together again preparing for next summer’s nesting.
I’d seen them working along the beach, and they had disappeared, when suddenly the raucous call of the female went up, I turned and raced back along the beach to an opening among the trees and she came over the tops of the trees, just as he plummeted down from a display flight.
But if she was happy to see him, I was glad to get one shot of the joyous moment.

Enjoy.