Virginia Is For Families

Beth and I went on our annual Virginia Beach cruise this evening. There were no fiery sunsets this year as a blanket of haze hung around. But we have never seen so many dolphins. And so began my annual competition with the best in the world at avoiding having their pictures taken. There is a remote chance of getting a great dolphin shot with one of those small computer driven cameras people usually bring on these trips. By the time light enters the camera the dolphin has come and gone to the other side of the boat. I don’t have that excuse however with my Nikon D70 SLR. There is no doubt, however, that the dolphins won this year’s competition. They taunted me from various angles as I turned and fired only to capture a tail stuck straight up in the air. This is a universal gesture in dolphin speak I believe. On the way back one of the crafty critters was riding the wake and I was following him only about twenty feet away. I knew he would jump and he did. It was the perfect shot and I could see him smiling as I pressed the button. And nothing happened. The flash had just kicked in a few moments earlier and the camera was recharging. There is no doubt he knew this would happen.

I did escape with a couple of shots and will share one of them with you. I keep telling myself , “Next year”. The perfect dolphin shot is my white whale and we will keep coming back until the boat sinks or I no longer remember how to get to the beach.