PHOTO OF THE WEEK

-- Steve McCrank

You could not have asked for a more perfect day for a carnival then

last Sunday. The sun was warm, the breeze cool, and I was happy to be out

of the office. Finding photos at the St. John the Baptist Catholic

Church’s carnival was like shooting fish in a barrel. But I was hoping to

get something a little more special.

For nearly an hour I had been trying to get a photo from one of the

more thrilling, fast rides when over my shoulder I could hear the

laughter of kids on one of the kiddie rides. There, Julie and Gaby Perez

were all smiles as they rode the Katerpillar Kastle. I hustled over to

the ride to try and get them coming around the turn, in part because it

made a nice composition and also I knew the ride was almost over. I was

only able to shoot two or three frames, but, on the last shot Gaby threw

her arms in the air. It was too perfect . . . unless I didn’t get her in

focus. A knot started to tighten in my stomach as I checked the monitor

on the digital camera. Looked sharp. It was a beautiful day.