​Tuesday, 8:14 AM - On occasion, there are magical moments in life: a beautiful sunset; a comforting moment; a relaxing cup of tea; a reunion with an old friend. They don’t happen all the time, but that’s what makes them magical.

Early one morning I was at the animal shelter to shoot some dog adoption photos. A golden sunrise was hitting the ripples on the water of the retention pond out back. The warm orange glow of the sun reflected off the deep blue water in a harmony of natural, complementary colors. And almost as if beckoned, a family of Canada Geese gracefully cut across the water within the scene. Everything blazed orange in the rising rays of the sun. I’ve walked past this same scene many times. But on this occasion, it was a “magical moment” and I just happened to be there.
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Often, these magical moments may seem spontaneous or appear of their own accord. But can we as photographers “help create” these magical moments? We sure can! We can increase our chances of capturing a magical moment by being conscious of time and location. Be there for the “golden hour”. Sunrise and sunset times can be found easily on our smart phones. A compass on the same phone can even let us know the direction of the sun as it hits the horizon. If you walk the same area or park often, don’t let it become common and unnoticed. Think how a particular patch of woods, or pond, or trail would look under different light or conditions.  Magical moments are magical, but we can have a hand in bringing the to fruition! 

Friday, 4:41 PM -  at the end of a hectic Friday, finally closing the loose ends on an impounded Paso Fino and an uproar over a pitbull attack, I stepped out behind the shelter into the bright blue, fifty-two-degree afternoon. It was a tad breezy, but much more quiet and peaceful than the office.
 
Out on the water, more Hooded Mergansers had arrived. There were now two males with a harem of eight females. One female was off toward the back side sitting in pond weeds and letting out a croak in almost timed intervals. The other females floated in a group, while the two feisty males paraded themselves in, around and through the ladies. One male was particularly more flamboyant than the other. He was bobbing his head, crest fully erected; spinning in circles; then paddling swiftly off in a straight line. Although they were a bit too far for my lens to reach, it was still an entertaining affair. A female Cardinal seemed to enjoy watching me as much as I did watching the Mergansers.
 
Twenty minutes later while heading off toward home, just around the corner on Pannell Road, two Turkey Vultures were enjoying a feast in the grass. As I slowed the truck, one took flight. While the other debated about fleeing or staying near his food, I was able to get a few shots. With the truck still gently rolling, and another car approaching from the rear, the image wasn’t too sharp.
 
Leaving the camera in full manual mode makes it harder to get these impromptu wildlife shots. Perhaps the more I practice, the better I’ll become. Nevertheless, when I got home, I saved two user settings that will allow me to grab the camera and begin firing with a few auto settings to capture the moment. If the critter sits still long enough, I can then switch to manual and begin my fumbling around with buttons and dials. But most likely, until I become proficient, the camera will make better decisions on the fly than I.
 
Walton County, Georgia