One Photograph Was All He Needed | Kitty Hawk, NC
Before December 17, 1903, John T. Daniels had never used a camera and after that date, he would never use one again. As a member of a local life saving station who had been helping out with the Wright Brothers’ attempts at flight, John was one of just five people present on the day when Wilbur and Orville made history. Before the first flight attempt, Orville Wright handed Mr. Daniels a camera and asked him to take a photograph of what was to happen. In the midst of excitement, he pressed the shutter creating one of the most important images of all time.
Later that day, a gust of wind would topple the Wright Flyer-I, destroying it and injuring John T. Daniels at the same time. He would later describe himself as ‘a survivor of the first plane crash.’ He died on January 31, 1948, the day after Orville Wright passed. With just one image in his portfolio, John T. Daniels goes down as one of the most important photographers in history. One photograph was all he needed.
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Run! | Corolla, North Carolina
I spent Saturday out on the Outer Banks doing some family portrait sessions on the beach. It was my first visit out there and man, is it beautiful! After the shoots I had a little time to visit the Wright Brothers Memorial at Kitty Hawk, a site that’s been on my ‘must visit’ list since I was a kid. Can’t wait to go back!
On the beach at Corolla, I ended up shooting seven families. My wife, Ashley, came along to help pose them and I am forever grateful that she did. Posing is definitely my weakness and she noticed a lot of things I would have never seen until I was back home and processing. We were setting up to shoot this little guy’s family, but as soon as Ashley turned around, he bolted! Now no matter your age, you remember the absolute torture that family portrait day was as a kid! I’ve gotta give it to this guy, he saw his opportunity and he took it. Even though this is just a candid shot I took white on my knees in the sand pointing the opposite direction, it turned out to be one of my favorites of the day. I love the look of joy on his face as he runs for freedom, knowing that he finally outsmarted us all!
The shot: Nikon D90, 70-300mm VR lens; f/4.5, ISO-100, 200mm
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