Saturday, October 4, 2008

Serendipity

So, I was standing here pointing my camera at this interesting alley off Mission and Fair Oaks. And I was thinking, hey, too bad there isn't something organic, something whimsical, something lively to juxtapose against all those harsh architectural angles...

And suddenly, this guy rode into the shot. What are the odds of that?

(I'm thinking maybe I should have played the lottery that day.)

31 comments:

k said...

...and how lucky that he was wearing a red shirt! fabulous shot!!! i love the colours - i mean really, a green shirt would just not have been the same! well done!

thank you so much for all you awesome comments! you actually got what i was trying to say - EVERYtime!

i love your writing too and well your photo's are fab! ill be back again and again! sj

Bergson said...

You waited for a long time to have a red cyclist?

Colors are perfected

Virginia said...

I'm with Bergson. How long did this serendipity take???
A great one indeed. Without it the photo would have been so-so. Did you notice the red curb too???

Mister Earl said...

Great photo, as usual, Laurie. I know right where that is. It's at the back of the blue tile bank (furniture store) with the clock. I've looked for cardboard in the dumpster off camera to the right! Great luck with the cyclist.

Your lottery comment made me think of the time an expert witness was testifying for me and was explaining a complex computer process in terms of the language Esparanto. The judge interrupted and said, "My wife's grandfather invented Esparanto." To which I said, "I should have bought a lottery ticket." The whole courtroom burst into laughter.

Hilda said...

And such a bright spot of color he adds too! Maybe you should have played the lottery. :)

Hope said...

So nice of this man to wear his red shirt! Serendipity, yes!

Isadora said...

:) I don't believe in accidents. Things happen when they do, for a reason - and you are showing a great example.

Have a great week-end!

Tanya Breese said...

He fits in perfectly! Happy he rode right into the shot :) Have a great weekend!

Danial Bigham said...

thank u for saw my weblog.Serendipity.When i was child i saw serendipity cartoon.

Knoxville Girl said...

Laurie, this is just astonishing. the universe has its plan,and you flowed along with it. great shot.

Anonymous said...

Ah, it's not all chance. You've got to know when you have what you need.

ft. lauderdale daily photo said...

Don't you love the moment when a photo literally presents itself? Great shot--color, angles, everything.

Petrea Burchard said...

I'm with Isadora, Knoxville Girl and Alatadenahiker. Sure, there's an element of chance, but "chance favors the prepared mind." (Who am I quoting? I think it's Louis Pasteur.)

Tash said...

It would of been a great shot even without the awesome red-shirt-wearing-beach-bike-biker. Well done!

Mister Earl said...

Notice how the red brick and the red curb frame the shot, even before the red biker arrived!

Wayne said...

I can think of three reasons why Laurie's photos turn out so much better than mine.

She has the advantage of:

1. 364 days of sunshine.
2. that LA sunlight that is somehow filtered through a layer of pollution to create an effect found nowhere else.
3. talent.

Webradio said...

Hello Laurie !
Very nice shot...
The red cyclist is cute !

SEe You later.

ben wideman said...

Superb contrast, and I love the texture of this image. Bravo Laurie!

Dixie Jane said...

All those "every which-a-way" angles and then the serendipity-do-da cyclist made it complete. Did you call ahead for that red shirt? I can't add anything to the previous comments. They have said it all.

Antonia said...

Wonderful atmosphere and perfect composition. Cheers!
and thank you for the congratulations!

Eki said...

That's what a photographer does! Patience brings its own rewards.

I like the idyllic look of this photo, Laurie. Looking at this photo feels like travelling back in time.

USelaine said...

Your setting already looked like it would be interesting enough! How did the rider know to wear red that day?

Profile Not Available said...

Love this! The red shirt works perfectly with the green wall!

Anonymous said...

I love that red curb too. Then there are the red bricks and, of course, the red shirt completes the triangle. How about those yellow stripes on the pole ? Three of them, I think. The greenish blue completes your palette. But it is the cyclist that adds your characteristic magic! Wonderful shot! I'm imagining the music.

Jill said...

Amen to all the above. Great shot Laurie. Glad you were there at just the right moment.

Unknown said...

The red with that acidic turquoise is perfect! Happenstance is a wonderful thing. :~)

Laurie Allee said...

Howdy folks,

Welcome Ft. Lauderdale Daily Photo!

Thanks for all the kind words about my lucky little picture here. I still smile when I look at it because it represents one of those "I think it, and it comes out HERE!" kind of moments.

Mr. Earl, your court story is great! (Did you win the case?)

Petrea, love that quote.

Wayne, you're way too kind. (And also hilarious.) But I don't know what you're talking about -- because your photos are fantastic!

Dixie (Mom!) I just LOVE "serendipity do dah." That should be the title of a book.

Shanna, what music do you imagine? It HAS to be a waltz, right?

Judy, "happenstance" is one of my favorite words.

Thank you for so many nice comments, everyone!

Jane Hards Photography said...

Srendipity is the photographer's best friend, but it's true you still have to have the perceptive eye to realise the shot before you take it. It's Hopper again.

Laurie Allee said...

Thanks, Babooshka!

Rob said...

perfect timing, talk about being at the right place and right time.

Anonymous said...

Welcome to the neighborhood!

Stumbled upon your blog looking for old maps of South Pas but found your blog instead :)

You are now book marked!