That Time A Great Shot Just Drops In Your Lap...Or Camera

Exactly one week ago tonight, I found myself standing in the middle of an amusement park holding my dinner of German food in my hand and waiting for my daughter to finish up shutting down her show for the night.

A deep red light erupted from the stage and I saw it...a chance to snap a photograph.

And so I did.

I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out. Of course, digital photography is so much better when it comes to knowing if you got the shot or not than it used to be when we used film. No wonder one-hour photo places were so popular. It's almost inconceivable to think there was no way of knowing how a picture turned out until you developed the film.

Now, all you have to do is change from the camera app to the photo app, if you're using your phone, which I did last week.

This was my daughter's show--the show I do had its last show canceled because they were closing the park earlier than planned. Since I no longer had a show, I thought I'd go pick up dinner then my daughter and I would go home. I saw the red light flood the stage, I took a few shots, then came home and posted the best shot as my Pic Of The Day.

What I didn't see was how the stage looks like a big mouth, the ship's wheel being swallowed in a sea of red. Two lights hanging overhead look like eyes. To me, the picture captures the magic I've found performing on stage. Be it singing, dancing, or acting, the stage can provide an experience that can change lives.

I don't know if the one picture will change any lives, but for that brief moment, when I stood alone in a semi-deserted amusement park, I got a great shot.

Halloween Season...It Begins This Week

This morning, as I left for work, it was dark and the crisp air had a bit in it.

Halloween is coming!

And, as if to solidify the point, my autumn gig of scaring the crap out of people begins this next weekend. It's time to break out the Halloween decorations. And so I did, at my work desk. I unboxed then assembled my Jack Skellington. He's seen better days and I'm missing his dog, Zero, but even with his faults, he puts me in holiday mood.

I've made no secret that Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I do not "go all out" as some do. We decorate, the house but the kids don't go "trick-or-treating." They're getting too old, anyway. But there's something about the time of year--summer's relinquishing its hold on the hot weather and things are starting to cool down. It's the beginning of football season, college, pro, even high school when I get a chance to watch.

The days shorten, the nights get longer.

What a beautiful time of year!

I know Halloween merchandise has been in stores for months, but it doesn't matter. Once Lagoon opens its doors (this year on Friday, the 13th...) and we escort 40 or so people into a small room on the park and begin Seance, it's on!

I hope you all a healthy and hearty Halloween season. For me, it begins this week.