Missed Opportunity

Before I started shooting for my final project at Space Farms Zoo & Museum I planned out every little thing of what needed to be done to produce a cohesive series. I contacted the owner to get permission to shoot there, picked days to shoot, and planned out what sort of images to take. So everything was set, I was to shoot once as a patron of the zoo and then go back with the owner to shoot over spring break. It had all the makings of being a very successful shoot, and at first it was, but unfortunately it did not end the way I planned it to.

I went for my preliminary shoot on my own a few weekends ago and ended up shooting eight rolls of film, and getting some great shots. But after viewing the images it was clear I would need a few more shots to round out the series. It was now spring break and I was all set to go for my second visit, but Mother Nature had different plans. The days leading up to and the first few days of spring break were extremely rainy, so rainy in fact the zoo flooded and was shut down the entire week to be drained and cleaned. I was not going to get my second after all.

Although it was not an instance where I forgot a camera or was changing a roll of film, it was certainly a missed opportunity. It was the first time I had special permission and access to shoot a very interesting place. It would have been intriguing to get the perspective of the owner, but alas it was not to be. Fortunately I took the preliminary trip their and was able to capture the overall story of the zoo. I definitely want to continue to explore the zoo and plan to over the summer. This whole story goes to show that even with a thought out plan there are always unpredictable forces that can spoil a shoot, that’s life.