PHOTO OF THE WEEK

-- Greg Fry

The spot was perfect. More than a year ago, I thought to myself that

the beach-scene mural in the parking lot on Balboa Peninsula would make a

great background for a rainy-day photo. Just wait for a pedestrian to

hustle by under the shelter of an umbrella, trying to keep dry, with

visions of sun, sand and surf contrasting his condition.

Each and every time the rain came, I made my pilgrimage to the parking

lot, chose a spot far enough away to capture a big enough piece of the

mural and waited. It wasn’t as easy as I had thought it would be. Day

after day, hour after hour, I staked out the mural.

The only people that would ever cross my field of view seemed to

welcome the rain, basking in it, never under a trusty umbrella. After a

year of trying, I thought maybe it was time to give up on my vision of

the contrasting scenes and move on. This winter solidified my surrender,

as barely a drop of rain fell through the entire season.

On Wednesday as I made my way to work, I was angry as the rain started

to fall. It never fails. The day after I wash my car, it manages to come

down just enough to ruin my efforts. Then I remembered the mural. One

more try, I thought, refusing to completely abandon the vision.

As I bounced my way along the rain-filled potholes on Balboa

Boulevard, I saw it there, once again inspiring me with its sunny scene

as my windshield wipers fought to keep the glass clear. When I pulled

into the parking lot, I couldn’t believe my eyes as a gentleman came

rushing across the lot, umbrella and all! I had barely a few seconds to

pop the trunk, grab the camera and point. I didn’t have time to check the

settings, or to even make sure I had a memory card in place as I fired

off the pictures.

And as quickly as he rushed through the lot, he was gone. I stood

there with rain on the camera and on my face. What a glorious moment as I

checked the camera and saw that indeed I had a memory card in place and

that I had captured the elusive image that had taunted me for what seemed

like forever.