The Story is Never Just One Photo

I’ve got a confession to make.

Most people think I go out on the streets of Toronto, take one perfect photo, and call it a day.

Yeah… no.

That’s not how Bob works.

It’s Never One Shot — It’s a Series

When I head out into the streets of Toronto, I’m not hunting for one photo. I’m building a sequence. A story. A little documentary that unfolds one frame at a time.

Because the truth is—street photography isn’t just about what something looks like.

It’s about what’s happening.

And that takes more than one photo to tell.

The Bob Method (Highly Scientific)

Here’s how it usually goes:

I find a scene

I hang around (some call it loitering… I call it “observational journalism”)

I take 5 or 6 photos

And suddenly… there’s a story

It could be:

A guy waiting for a streetcar that never comes

A couple arguing beside a hot dog stand

A construction worker eating lunch like it’s a five-star meal

Or a dog flying through the air like it just got launched from a cannon (yes, that actually happened)

One photo? That’s a moment.

Five photos? That’s a story arc.

What the “Experts” Don’t Tell You

You watch those YouTube videos, right?

“Sharpness in the corners.”

“Chromatic aberration.”

“Test charts.”

Meanwhile, I’m standing on a corner downtown thinking:

“Is this guy about to drop his coffee… because if he does, I need the full sequence.”

That’s the difference.

They test lenses.

I document life.

The Streets Are Always Changing

The best part about shooting in Toronto?

The story is never finished.

One day it’s:

Crowds rushing through Union Station

The next it’s a quiet lane way that looks like a movie set

Then suddenly there’s a protest, a parade, or a guy playing saxophone like he’s headlining a jazz festival

Same streets.

Different stories.

Every single time.

My Flickr = A Living History Book

When you scroll through my photos, you’re not just seeing random shots.

You’re seeing:

Before

During

After

You’re seeing how moments unfold.

That’s why I’ve got millions of views—not because I took one great photo…

…but because I told the whole story.

The Real Secret

Here’s the secret nobody tells you:

If you want better street photos…

Stop looking for the perfect shot

Start looking for the next shot

Because the story doesn’t end when you click the shutter.

That’s just the beginning.

Final Thought from Bob

Anyone can take a photo.

But not everyone can tell a story.

And on the streets of Toronto…

Bob’s not just taking pictures.

He’s documenting the whole show

 

Bob’s Guide to Buying a Winning Lottery Ticket

There are two types of people in this world:
People who buy lottery tickets… and people who say, “I was going to buy one but…”

Bob is not the second type.

Today’s street photography mission turned into something much more serious: where do you buy the winning ticket?

Because on one corner, you’ve got Lambton Convenience—clean sign, big bold numbers, looking like they mean business.

And in the window…
$80 MILLION.

Eighty. Million.

Now across the way?
Lambton Daily Mart.

A little more “lived in.” A little more “the shelves might tell stories.” But right there in the window…

$60 MILLION.

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The Problem (Bob-Level Math)

Bob is now standing on the sidewalk pretending to take photos, but really…

He’s doing advanced calculations.

• One place says $80 million
• The other says $60 million

Now any normal person would say:
“Bob… go for the $80 million.”

But Bob is not a normal person. Bob is a street photographer.

---

The Deep Street Logic

Bob starts thinking…

The $80 million place feels big. Like everyone is buying tickets there.

But the $60 million place?

That’s the underdog.

That’s the place where someone already won a million bucks before.
That’s the place with history. With grit. With… slightly crooked signage.

And Bob knows something about the streets:

The best stories don’t come from the biggest numbers…
they come from the most interesting places.

---

The Photographer’s Dilemma

You line up the shot:

Two stores.
Same street.
Different dreams.

One screams:
“BIG JACKPOT ENERGY.”

The other whispers:
“Someone already beat the odds here…”

And now Bob is stuck between logic… and storytelling.

---

The Final Decision

Bob walks into…

Let’s just say he didn’t pick based on the math.

Because if Bob wanted logic, he wouldn’t be out here taking photos of garbage bins and convenience stores on a Tuesday.

---

The Result

Did Bob win?

Of course not.

But he did get a great photo, a better story, and a reminder that sometimes…

$60 million feels more real than $80 million.

---

Next time you see two lottery signs—

One saying $80 million
One saying $60 million

Ask yourself:

Are you chasing the bigger number…
or the better story?

Bob already knows which one he picked.

 

Bob Gets to Eglinton Flats Just Before the Easter Egg Chaos

So there I was… Bob, street photographer, early riser (well… early-ish), rolling into Eglinton Flats Park just before the official start of what can only be described as The Great Toronto Egg Migration of 2026.

Now, most photographers show up during the event.
Not Bob.

Bob shows up before the chaos… when the story is still hiding in the bushes.

---

First thing I notice?
Silence.

Not the peaceful kind… the suspicious kind.

You know the kind of quiet where you just know in about 10 minutes there’s going to be 200 kids sprinting like it’s the 100m finals at the Olympics—but instead of gold medals, it’s plastic eggs filled with questionable chocolate.

---

And then I see them…

Eggs.

Everywhere.

Not just on the grass… oh no…
These volunteers got creative.

• Eggs tucked into tree branches like nature suddenly started decorating for Easter
• Eggs hidden in logs like woodland creatures are running a side hustle
• Eggs just casually sitting out in the open like, “Yeah… I’m not gonna last 30 seconds”

And Bob?
Bob starts documenting.

Because this… this is the calm before the storm.

---

Then I spot something even better…

Two little plastic bunny toys sitting on a log like they got there early too. Probably waiting for their friends. Or maybe they’re supervising the egg placement. Hard to say. Bob doesn’t ask questions—Bob takes photos.

---

And then I see them…

Three people in matching yellow shirts.

Not kids. Not hunters.

These are the real MVPs.

The setup crew.

The ones out here placing eggs, making sure every tree, log, and patch of grass is properly stocked for the incoming chaos.

Standing there like they just finished creating a masterpiece… and in about five minutes it’s going to be completely wiped out.

Bob’s thinking:

“These three just built the whole event… and nobody’s gonna remember them once the chocolate starts flying.”

---

I wander deeper into the park and it’s like a treasure map exploded.

Purple eggs. Yellow eggs. Blue eggs hanging from branches like modern art installations.

At one point I’m thinking:
“Is this an Easter egg hunt or did the Easter Bunny just panic and start throwing inventory everywhere?”

---

And then… the real moment.

The quiet is still holding.

But you can feel it.

Somewhere, just out of frame, kids are lining up… bouncing on their feet… waiting for the signal.

This isn’t a hunt.
This is tactical egg acquisition.

---

And Bob?

Bob is standing there with his camera thinking:

“In about five minutes… all of this disappears.”

Every egg.
Every carefully placed bunny.
Every quiet little scene.

Gone.

---

That’s the thing about street photography—and yeah, this counts.

It’s not always about the big moment.

Sometimes it’s about showing up just before everything happens.

Because once the chaos starts… the story changes.

But right before?

That’s where the magic is.

---

So yeah…

Bob got to Eglinton Flats early today.

Before the kids.
Before the running.
Before the great chocolate economy collapsed.

And honestly?

I think I got the better photos.

Because I didn’t just photograph the egg hunt…

I photographed the people who set it all up… and the seconds before it disappeared.

 

From Garage Chairs to Driveway Beers (Finally Together Again)

Back in 2020, my brother and I had what I would call a highly advanced, government-approved, cutting-edge seating arrangement… also known as:
him in the garage… me in the driveway… yelling at each other like two guys who forgot their hearing aids.

That was our version of social distancing.

We’d sit there with a couple of beers, separated by a few meters and a whole lot of “WHAT DID YOU SAY?” moments. Conversations sounded like this:

“HOW’S WORK?”
“WHAT?”
“I SAID HOW’S WORK?”
“YEAH, I HAD ONE!”

Real meaningful stuff.

The garage became his territory. The driveway was mine. Somewhere between us was that invisible line you didn’t cross unless you wanted a lecture from the news, your doctor, or your wife.

But here’s the thing—those nights mattered.
Even spaced out like that, it still felt like we were keeping something normal alive.

Fast forward to today.

No distance.
No shouting.
No imaginary force field between us.

Just the two of us sitting side by side in the driveway, shoulder to shoulder, having a beer like it’s the most normal thing in the world—and somehow, it feels better than it ever did before.

Funny how that works.

Same driveway.
Same brother.
Same cheap lawn chairs.

But a completely different feeling.

You don’t really notice what you’re missing until you get it back. Sitting together, talking normally, sharing a laugh without measuring distance—it’s the kind of thing you used to take for granted.

Not anymore.

As a street photographer, I always say I’m out there capturing “snapshots of the times.” Well, this right here? This is one of those moments too. No camera needed.

Just two guys, a driveway, and a couple of beers—documenting the end of something strange and the return of something simple.

And honestly…
this might be one of the best shots I never took.

 

Bob the Influencer (With Old Cameras and Zero Shame)

Alright… let’s get something straight.

I did not wake up one morning and decide,
“Hey Bob, today you become an influencer.”

No.

I just kept walking the streets of Toronto…
kept hopping on the GO train…
kept wandering around Ontario like a slightly confused tourist with a camera…
and next thing you know—boom—apparently I’m an “internet influencer.”

---

The Influencer Gear (Prepare to Be Disappointed)

Now here’s the part where all the YouTube experts faint:

I’m doing all this with old Sony cameras.

• Sony a6000 (my “high-end” machine… from like 10 years ago)
• Sony a5000 (still kicking after freezing winters)
• Sony NEX-3 (basically a museum piece at this point)

No $5000 full-frame.
No lens that costs more than my rent.
No cinematic slow-motion coffee pouring shots.

Just me… a kit lens… and a stubborn refusal to upgrade.

---

The Secret Influencer Strategy (Don’t Tell Anyone)

Here’s the big influencer secret…

I go outside.

That’s it.

While everyone is inside watching “Top 10 Street Photography Tips” videos,
Bob is out there actually taking photos of:

• People rushing through Union Station
• Weird reflections in puddles
• Construction workers building half the city
• Festivals, protests, random Tuesday afternoons
• That one guy who always looks like he’s late for something

And then I take those photos…
throw them into a blog post…
add a bit of storytelling…
maybe a joke or two…

And suddenly—people are reading it.

---

Ontario Is Basically My Content Studio

You don’t need a studio when you’ve got Ontario.

One day I’m:

• Walking through downtown Toronto pretending I’m press
• Next day I’m out camping somewhere with more trees than people
• Then I’m back shooting streetcars, crowds, and whatever chaos the city throws at me

Everywhere is content.
Everywhere is a story.

You just have to show up.

---

Bob vs The World Travelers 🌎

Now here’s where it gets funny…

You’ve got influencers flying across the world,
posting photos from beaches, mountains, and fancy hotels…

Meanwhile…

Bob has probably traveled more of Ontario
than most influencers have traveled the world.

Yeah, I said it.

From small towns to provincial parks,
from quiet lakes to busy city streets—
I’ve covered this province like it’s my full-time job.

And it doesn’t stop there…

I’ve gone coast to coast across Canada with these same old cameras.

Same gear.
Same approach.
Same Bob.

No upgrades required.

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The Truth About “Influencing”

Here’s the honest truth…

I’m not influencing people because I have fancy gear.

I’m influencing people because:

• I actually go out and shoot
• I tell real stories
• I use gear people already own
• And I prove you don’t need the latest camera to make something interesting

If anything…
I’m influencing people to stop buying gear.

Which is probably why no camera companies have called me yet 

---

The Bob Method (Highly Advanced Technique)

For those looking to become influencers, here is my proven system:

1. Grab old camera
2. Walk outside
3. Take photos
4. Travel across Ontario… a lot
5. Accidentally go coast to coast in Canada
6. Repeat for 10+ years
7. Accidentally become influencer

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Final Thoughts from a Reluctant Influencer

Somewhere along the way,
my little street photography habit turned into:

• A blog
• Thousands of photos
• Millions of views
• And apparently… a “brand”

All powered by old Sony cameras, a lot of walking,
and more kilometres across Ontario than most people rack up in airline points.

So yeah…

If you see a guy in Toronto with an older camera,
taking photos like he’s documenting history…

That’s not just Bob.

That’s an influencer in action.

(Still waiting for my free coffee sponsorship though) 

 

The Film Canister Incident (A Story From “Back in the Day”)

There was a time—kids, gather around—when photographers didn’t walk around with memory cards the size of a fingernail. No, we had film. Real film. The kind you had to wait to see. The kind that made every shot feel like a gamble.

And with film came one of the most important accessories in photography history…

The humble film canister.

You know the one. Little plastic tube. Black lid. Rattles just enough to make you think something important is inside—even if it’s just dust and regret.

Now I could totally see this happening. Maybe it did. Maybe it didn’t. But it feels like one of those stories that belongs in the golden age of street photography.

---

So picture this…

A guy—let’s call him Bob’s spiritual ancestor—is out wandering the streets, camera around his neck, probably shooting Tri-X like a proper street shooter. He’s got a bag slung over his shoulder, filled with film canisters. Six of them.

He’s doing his thing. Waiting for the moment. Watching the light. Probably missing shots because someone walked in front of him at the wrong time.

Then—bam.

A cop stops him.

Now, back then, walking around with a camera already made you look suspicious enough. Add a bag full of mysterious little containers? That’s a whole different level.

The cop says:
“Mind if I take a look in your bag?”

Our film shooter—cool as a Leica shutter—says:
“Sure.”

The cop digs in and pulls out the canisters.

“What’s in these?”

Now here’s where it gets interesting.

The photographer opens one… film.
Opens another… more film.
Opens a third… yep, film again.

The cop sees the negatives rolled up, nods, and you can almost hear him thinking:
“Ah, just a harmless artsy type.”

He hands the bag back.

“Alright, you’re good to go.”

And off our photographer walks, back into the city, chasing shadows and reflections like nothing happened.

---

But here’s the part that makes this story…

Canister number six?

Yeah… that one wasn’t Kodak.

That one had pot in it.

Sitting there the whole time. Quiet. Innocent-looking. Just another little black canister in a photographer’s bag.

And the cop never asked to see it.

---

Now, I’m not saying this actually happened.

But if you’ve ever carried film canisters, you know how easy it would be.

Those little containers were the Swiss Army knife of street life:

• Film
• Coins
• Matches
• Spare batteries
• Mystery items you forgot about
• And apparently… a little something extra

---

What I love about this story is how it captures that era.

You could walk around with a camera, a bag full of canisters, and a story waiting to happen at every corner. No instant playback. No deleting. No explaining yourself with a screen.

Just you, your camera, and whatever the city decided to throw your way.

And maybe… just maybe…

One canister you hoped nobody opened.

---

These days, the cops don’t ask to see your SD card.

And honestly?

That’s probably for the best.

But part of me misses those film days—when even your camera bag had a little mystery to it.

And apparently…

A lot more than just photos inside.

 

Bob’s Selective Colour Trick (a.k.a. How to Make the Same Walk Look New Again)

So there I was… walking around the same place I’ve walked about 400 times.

Same buildings.
Same paths.
Same benches.
Same “don’t slip” signs that I’ve photographed so many times I’m pretty sure they recognize me now.

At some point you start thinking:

“Bob… are you just taking the same photo over and over again?”

And the answer is… yes. Yes I am.

BUT… here’s the trick.

---

Enter: Selective Colour Mode (Bob’s Secret Weapon)

On Sony cameras, there’s this little feature called Selective Colour.

Most people scroll past it like it’s some kind of gimmick.

Bob?
Bob lives in it.

What it does is simple:

• Turns your photo black and white
• Leaves one colour (like yellow, red, green, or blue)

And suddenly…

That boring caution sign?
Boom. Star of the show.

That worker in a safety vest?
Instant subject.

That random red pole you’ve ignored for 10 years?
Modern art.

---

The Same Scene… But Not Really

I’ve taken hundreds of photos around campus. Same routes. Same angles. Same “Bob wandering aimlessly pretending to be media” energy.

But this time?

• The yellow caution signs jumped out like they were yelling at me
• The safety vests turned workers into the main characters
• Even a blue recycling bin suddenly felt like it had purpose in life

It’s like the city handed me a highlighter and said:

“Here Bob… THIS is what you’re supposed to notice.”

---

Why This Works (Bob Explains Art… Poorly)

When everything is in colour, your brain goes:

“Cool. Stuff.”

When everything is black and white except one thing, your brain goes:

“WAIT… WHAT IS THAT?!”

Selective colour:

• Simplifies the scene
• Removes distractions
• Forces a subject
• Makes everyday stuff look intentional (even when Bob is not)

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Bob’s Field Notes (Highly Scientific)

• Yellow works AMAZING for street photography
• Red is dramatic (good for those “serious photographer” moments)
• Green is hit or miss unless you find the right subject
• Blue… well… Bob uses it when nothing else is working 

And the best part?

You don’t need:

• A new lens
• A new camera
• Or a YouTube review telling you about corner sharpness

You just need to press:
Creative Style → Picture Effect → Selective Colour

---

Bob Camera Club Award (Again)

I’m officially awarding myself:

“Most Likely to Photograph the Same Place 500 Times and Still Pretend It’s New” Award

And honestly… I stand by it.

Because photography isn’t always about finding new places.

Sometimes it’s about seeing the same place…

differently.

---

Final Thought from Bob

If you’re stuck shooting the same streets, same parks, same campus…

Don’t move.

Just change how you see.

Or in Bob’s case…

Just turn everything black and white and hope one colour saves the photo.

And most of the time?

It does.

 

The Day My Beliefs Froze… and Then Got Fashionable

Bob has always been a man of strong opinions.

Not too strong… but strong enough to nod seriously in conversations and say things like,
“Yeah, Bob’s not really a fur guy.”

Simple. Clean. Easy.

Then Bob went to Queen’s Park.

And everything fell apart faster than a cheap tripod in the wind.

---

The Setup

Cold. Grey. Classic Toronto “why do I live here again?” weather.

Bob’s out doing his usual thing—wandering around, pretending he’s on assignment, occasionally adjusting his imaginary media badge.

Then suddenly…

Out of nowhere…

BOOM.

A woman shows up looking like she just stepped out of a 1940s movie set, holding a microphone like she’s about to go live on Bob News Network.

Fur coat. Confidence. Smile like she owns Queen’s Park.

Meanwhile behind her?

A protest.
People on stilts.
Signs waving.
Bob wondering if he accidentally walked into three different events at once.

---

Bob’s Brain Malfunction

Now here’s the problem.

Bob sees this scene and immediately thinks:

“This is an award-winning photo.”

Then Bob’s other brain kicks in:

“Wait… aren’t we anti-fur?”

Then photographer brain again:

“Yeah but LOOK AT THE TEXTURE ON THAT COAT.”

Then moral brain:

“Bob… stay focused.”

Then photographer brain:

“This could win THREE camera club awards.”

And just like that… Bob is in a full internal debate while also trying to adjust exposure with frozen fingers.

---

The Truth Nobody Tells You

Street photography is dangerous.

Not physically (well… sometimes physically)…
But mentally.

Because you go out thinking you have opinions…

…and then the city hits you with something that looks so good on camera that your beliefs start doing back flips.

Bob didn’t change his mind.

Bob just… got confused in high resolution.

---

The Moment

There she is—laughing, posing, owning the scene.

Bob’s thinking:

“This is either the best photo I take all week… or the moment my moral compass files a complaint.”

And honestly?

Probably both.

---

Bob’s New Philosophy (Under Review)

Bob still says he’s anti-fur.

But after today?

Bob has added a small footnote:

“Except when it looks absolutely incredible in a street photo and completely hijacks the entire scene.”

---

Final Thought from Bob

Street photography isn’t about being right.

It’s about being there…
Camera ready…
Slightly confused…
And willing to admit:

“I came here with opinions… but I’m leaving with photos.”

And if those photos also come with a mild identity crisis?

Well…

That’s just part of the Bob experience.

 

Bob Gets Ready in April (Because the Big Tournament Is Coming)

So there I was… standing in my kitchen in April, coffee in one hand, camera bag in the other, looking at something that may or may not cause confusion at event gates in a few months…

My FIFA World Cup 26 “MEDIA” badge.

And by “media badge,” I mean…

A very official-looking, completely Bob-produced piece of plastic that says:

MEDIA – BOB

Big letters. No last name. No explanation.
Just Bob.

---

April: The Calm Before the Chaos

Right now, Toronto is still… normal.

People are going to work.
Union Station is busy (as always).
And nobody is yelling about soccer… yet.

But Bob knows.

This city is about to:

• Fill with fans
• Get louder
• Get busier
• And become one giant street photography playground

So April is prep time.

Serious prep time.

Well… Bob-level serious.

---

The Gear Prep (Classic Bob Style)

Now you’d think Bob would upgrade gear for something this big.

Nope.

Same setup:

• Sony a6000
• Lenses that have survived multiple Toronto winters
• Probably still shooting in AUTO

Because if it worked last week at St. Lawrence Market…

It’ll work at the World Cup.

That’s science.

---

The Badge Test Runs

April is also the perfect time to test the badge.

Not at the stadium…
Not at security gates…

But casually.

Walking around downtown like:

• Union Station
• Nathan Phillips Square
• Anywhere with enough people to make it interesting

You clip the badge on…

Let it hang just right…

And watch what happens.

Do people notice?
Do they move slightly out of the way?
Do you suddenly feel 25% more official?

Answer: Yes.

---

The Real Plan

Bob’s not planning to shoot the game.

Let’s be honest…
Bob doesn’t even know if he has a ticket.

What Bob is planning:

• The crowds before kickoff
• The fans pouring out after the game
• The street vendors doing record business
• The chaos, the energy, the noise

Because that’s where the story is.

That’s where Toronto becomes something different.

---

Practicing the “Media Walk”

April is also the time to refine technique.

Not camera settings…

The walk.

• Confident, but not rushed
• Purposeful, but slightly mysterious
• Like you know exactly where you’re going… even when you don’t

Because when June hits…

There will be no time to think.

Only time to walk.

---

Final Thoughts from Pre-Tournament Bob

Right now, it’s just April.

The badge is ready.
The camera is ready.
Bob is… mostly ready.

The city doesn’t know what’s coming yet.

But Bob does.

And when the World Cup hits Toronto…

There will be crowds.
There will be noise.
There will be moments.

And somewhere in the middle of it all…

There will be a guy with a homemade MEDIA badge that says BOB,
walking like he belongs.

 

Bob Wins the Urban Animal Award – The Flying Dog of Grange Park

Bob wasn’t looking for an award that day.

He was just doing what he always does—wandering through Grange Park with a camera in hand, watching the ordinary turn into something worth remembering.

And then… it happened.

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The Dog That Took Flight

There it was—a dog, mid-air, frozen between earth and sky like it had forgotten gravity existed.

Not once.
Not twice.
But over and over again.

A blue ball in its mouth.
Ears back.
Eyes locked in.
Pure joy.

Bob didn’t hesitate.

He clicked.

And clicked again.

And again.

What he captured wasn’t just a dog playing—it was a moment of pure urban energy. A reminder that even in the middle of the city, life still leaps.

---

Timing, Luck… and a Bit of Bob Magic

Now any camera club judge will tell you:

“You need perfect timing to capture action.”

Bob agrees.

But he’ll also tell you:

“You need to be there in the first place.”

That muddy patch of grass.
That grey Toronto sky.
That split-second jump.

Most people walked right past it.

Bob stopped.

That’s the difference.

---

The Award Nobody Saw Coming

A week later, Bob enters his shots into the Urban Animal Award at the (unofficial but highly prestigious) Bob Camera Club.

And guess what?

First Place – Urban Animal Category

The judges loved it:

• The sense of motion
• The storytelling
• The contrast between city life and wild energy
• And of course… the flying dog

One judge even said:

“This isn’t just a dog. This is Toronto in motion.”

Bob nodded. He already knew.

---

More Than Just a Dog

What makes this series special isn’t just the jump.

It’s the setting.

Behind that dog:

• People walking through their day
• Kids near the playground
• A sculpture standing still while the dog refuses to

The city is calm.

The dog is chaos.

And right in the middle of it—Bob, with his camera, catching the exact moment where the two collide.

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Bob’s Lesson of the Day

You don’t need:

• A fancy studio
• Exotic wildlife
• Or a once-in-a-lifetime trip

Sometimes all you need is:

• A park
• A dog
• And the patience to wait for lift-off

---

Final Thought from Bob

“Some photographers chase the shot…
I just wait for something to jump.”