The one that got away...

Normally its about fishing. This time its about photography. I was out at the Oregon Trail Rally this weekend (I'll post some pictures once I get some stuff over to PhotoShelter) and I saw a shot I desperately wanted.

I was in Vernonia, OR to take a look at the service. There's a Kwik-E-Mart in town that probably does more business on the Oregon Trail weekend than in any other month of the year, spectators and competitors stop in for cold drinks and fried food that has probably been sitting under a heat lamp for far too long. I ordered a bean and cheese burrito and ended up with a BBQ meat burrito (who thought that was a good idea). I sat down to eat it while my dad used the restroom.

As a budding photographer, I'm always looking around evaluating everything to see if it would make a good shot. Honestly, I'm probably missing the good ones and taking the cookie cutter shots. I digress. A large man, most likely a local sits down at a table across from me. He's heavyset, tall, and has a bushy salt and pepper beard. That's just the start, he's wearing overalls and aviator glasses, and a breathe right strip (I thought those were for sleeping, but for him, a fashion accessory). He also proudly wore a headband, brand name Everlast, and the logo was upside down. He then proceded to eat a corndog with great enthusiasm. It was beautiful.

I couldn't think of a way to pull out my camera and take the picture without drawing his attention to me. I was right in front of him. I also thought that basically, I found his appearence amusing, not really a good thing to say when directly asking him for permission either. I couldn't find a way to respectfully get the shot so, unfortunately, I had to let that one go.