Lucky Shots

I got some lucky shots on my bike ride today, but before I show them I want to talk a bit about luck. I am a firm believer in luck, but that belief is flavored by the thoughts expressed by the poets I grew up listening to, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.

Bob, in his brilliant and bitter song IDIOT WIND, writes:

“They say I shot a man named Gray

and took his wife Italy.

She inherited a million bucks

and when she died it came to me.

I can’t help it if I’m lucky.”

That line always cracks me up.

Bruce, in his song LUCKY TOWN, writes:

“When it comes to luck

you make your own.

Tonight I got dirt on my hands

but I’m building me a new home.”

I think both songs imply that luck is more than a random thing, we have a degree of agency that comes into play. Which brings me to my lucky shots.

I try to go out with my bike and camera damn near every day. I have taken thousands of shots that are lousy and a few that are pretty good. My percentage of good shots has increased a bit, but it’s still tiny. I have gotten better at waiting and more reckless at pointing the camera and hoping. I got some lucky shots today, but it’s luck I had a hand in making. Unlike Bob’s idiot narrator, I’ll take my share of blame and credit for the luck I have.