This seems like a bold statement to make but I have good reason for making it.  Last minute shots really seem to work out for me out in the field.  I end up coming back from a planned landscape shoot and the shot I wanted is passable.  However, the last-minute shots I took on a whim become the best shots of the day.  Don’t believe me?  Check out some of these last minute photos for yourself.

Let’s first be clear.  These photos were taken when I was literally walking away to leave or driving away from my planned shoot for the day.  These are not the photos I took while waiting for something or just to entertain myself.  Those are for a different article.  These photos are the literal last-minute photos of my shoot that day.

1. Doe

I took this photo literally as we were leaving a zoo.  The entire zoo trip was a failed attempt to get a moose photo for a potential client who requested a moose photo as a Christmas gift for his wife.  The moose photos didn’t turn out as planned.  The moose was behind chain-link fence and too far away for a good shot.

The zoo houses several other animals for the public to admire.  I saw this deer while leaving and snapped a shot of her head.

2. Hot Air Balloons

When attending my first hot air balloon event, I made sure to get lots of photos.  Unfortunately, most of those photos included people and cars on a scale I didn’t like.  I left most of those photos on the cutting room floor.

After all the balloons were done launching and were drifting away, we headed back to the car.  I saw this shot on the way out and stopped for a landscape photo with the balloons.

3. Idaho Spring

We were doing a fantastic sunset shoot of the Rexburg Idaho temple across the street.  I was done.  I figured I had nailed whatever shots I was going to get for the day and we were heading back to the car.  Then I turned around.

I saw another photographer out in the field which really confirmed what I was already thinking.  After I was done here, I met my spouse in the car.

4. Sunset at Bryce

We had just gotten done hiking and photographing the steep trail of Queen’s Garden and were trying to escape the oncoming rain.  We were driving back to the park entrance when I had the feeling to turn around.  This experience taught me not to ignore those instinctual feelings when I get them.  Those feelings pay off in the end.

We got back to Sunset Point in time for golden hour to strike.  I squeezed in between all the tourists on the rim and got my shot in.

5. Ancient Red Skyscrapers

We had just checked out the nature area of Bryce Canyon around Mossy Cave.  We enjoyed the views and the hike.  However, we were tired and hungry.  We were heading back to the car.  My spouse needed to use the facilities before we left.

While I was bored, I took a couple last-minute shots to occupy my time.  This ended up being the best shot of the day and the bathroom is just to the left of me.

6. The Watchmen

When visiting Zion National Park with some family members, we took the easy and scenic Riverwalk trail at the end of the canyon.  We rode the free tram in and out.  Why wouldn’t we as the tram is the only practical way to access most of the canyon during tourist season.

I took lots of different shots and became thoroughly tired from the excursion.  We were riding the tram back to the car when the driver pointed out the photographers gathering on the bridge to catch the late-afternoon light on the mountains.

In spite of my exhaustion, I immediately knew where I had to be in the next few minutes.  I joined the photographers on the bridge and captured this shot during golden hour’s warmth.  Like all of these photos, this was the best shot of the day.

7. Solitude

Wanting to round out the national parks of Southern Utah, we made the trip to Capitol Reef.  While there, I elected to check out their Sunset Point and it’s small hike.

On the hike back out, I was taking lots of photos and getting lots of complaints.  When this photo turned out to be the best shot of the day, my spouse learned to let me take all the last-minute shots I wanted.

8. Don Quixote’s Giant Army

While driving out from scouting a different and commissioned shot, I noticed that the sunset against these wind turbines was brilliant and interesting.  I almost didn’t stop for the shot.  Having learned my lesson from before, I quickly debated the worth of stopping for the shot.

When I did stop, I captured this shot and made the rare scouting trip doubly worth the gas and time we committed.

9. Mallard Duck

We were doing a photo shoot of the Logan temple and were leaving because someone was setting up a marriage proposal.  We didn’t want to interrupt their big moment.

Then this lone male mallard duck flew into the fountain and started swimming.  I knew I had a few minutes so I got this photo in before we left the grounds.  We barely left in time for the proposal.  Sadly, I don’t know what she answered.

10. San Diego Pier

This started as a trip to Cabrillo National Monument in July.  That part ended before it began because the monument keeps business hours and we arrived 15 minutes too late.  We found ourselves locked out by a gate.

Not wanting to waste the trip and seeking somewhere else to go, we found some cliffs on the seashore which we photographed.  Done with that, we started heading back to the freeway and back home.

On the way, we passed the beach.  Since I noticed a pier, I decided to stop and try for it.  There was no parking other than 2 minute loading zones.  I got this shot in less than 10 minutes while my spouse kept the car running in the loading zone.  I didn’t want surfers in this shot.  Still, I managed to perform in a tight time crunch.  We didn’t waste the trip after all.

11. The Light After a Storm

Here’s another rare scouting expedition which paid off in unexpected ways.  Not every scouting trip pays off like this, but I prepare in case those trips yield landscape photos I want.

After scouting out Seagull Bay in a snowstorm for a commissioned shoot, I was done and cold.  We were driving out when I saw this cloud and this light.  It felt like a very special rare moment.  We pulled over and I got the shot.

12. Fire and Ice

After getting that Seagull Bay shot another day, we pulled to the end of the road on our way out.  We wanted to know what was there.  Then we would leave.

After seeing this last light of sunset over the American Falls Reservoir, we stopped and I hopped out of the car for the shot.  This photo displays the last light of sunset in addition to my last-minute attempt.  It’s a double last minute shot.

13. Throne of the Desert King

After chasing a dawn shot of the Tropic canal waterfall, I was tired from the early hour and from the fast hike to get there in time.  We were heading back to the car when I noticed that the light wasn’t changing.

There were clouds keeping the light soft.  So, I started looking for a last-minute shot to get in the beautiful light and landscape.  This was it.

14. My Idaho Home

Driving back from our Twin Falls Idaho waterfall shoot, my spouse developed a migraine so I was driving.  What ended up opening up behind us was a spectacularly dramatic sunset with storm clouds.  I felt like I couldn’t let this opportunity pass.

Not being willing to let it go, I pulled over around Burley and found the perfect farm for the foreground to take a picture.  Again, I almost didn’t stop but ended up being glad I did so in the end.

15. Sun Dance

After chasing the perfect shot of Inspiration Point at Bryce Canyon for several trips, I finally captured the photo I wanted on the morning of the summer solstice.

Heading down from the observation point, I noticed this tree and the fact that I could line the sun up between the trunks.  I knew this was promising and went for a sunburst effect too.  The tourist sitting on the root kindly let me take the shot before resuming her place.

Conclusion

Perhaps my opening statement of claiming to be the queen of last-minute shots seemed a bit bold.  Now, after having learned about many of my most successful photos being last-minute shots, do you still feel that I’m being bold?  Also, keep in mind that I’ve omitted several last-minute shots for the sake of time and space.

I’m doing nothing but telling the straight truth about these photos.  The frequency of my last-minute photos being successful is remarkable.  I’ve finally stopped getting flack about it too.

How about you?  Can you also claim the title of king or queen of last-minute shots?  I’d love to see some examples in the comments section below.