Camera Data

Camera Model: Canon 10D

Lens: Canon EF 100mm f/2 USM

Shutter Speed: 1/200 sec

Aperture: f/11

ISO Speed Rating: 100

Chalk on Sidewalk

From time to time I stumble onto a photo opportunity so unexpected that the end result winds up on my list of personal favorites. You are probably thinking I’ve finally flipped out with this one. But as usual, it’s the story behind the photo that, for me, makes it special.

I found this image on a sidewalk during Da Vinci Days in Corvallis, Oregon. I spent a good hour photographing the chalk art and the kids creating the art. The light was excellent, the kids were covered from head to toe in chalk, and their work was really extraordinary. With each shot, I was thinking “keeper, keeper another keeper!”

But later in the day while eating lunch with some friends, I discovered that I’d somehow forgotten to insert my media card into my camera. You have no idea how crushed I was. All I could think about was all those award winning images, captured forever in my brain, but not on my camera.

Adding insult to injury, when I returned the next day I found that all the wonderful works had been walked on during the night by people attending a nearby outdoor concert. The images had been destroyed and of course all the kids were long gone.

Standing there, completely dejected, I noticed this one small section from my favorite piece. It made me smile. Hope you like it as well.