The photos we did not take

I didn't photograph the lightning we had several days ago. I have never photographed a storm because I am scared of them.

I did not photograph the woman holding the sign that read: "A smile, a wink, a hug, a penny; anything helps." She's Asian, elderly, cute as a button, and if I had my camera, I would have given her ten dollars for her photo.

I didn't photograph the thousands of flags on the lawn of this mansion by the sea in my neighborhood for 9/11 and when I went back today with a camera, only one flag was left, and I was sad.

I didn't take a photo of the little boy dressed up as a knight and his little female friend dressed up as a pink princess running freely down 3rd and Pike. I didn't because they were four years old, and their mother was glowering, but I wish I had.

I didn't take a picture of the woman who sat on the park bench on campus only to jump up, shrieking, because the sprinklers had come on and completely soaked her. She shrieked, and all of us on the upper balcony turned around to see, and she blushed, and we smiled, even though we were far enough way she probably couldn't see our smile, and I truly felt it would have been a hilarious photo if done right.

It was July rain and the tree down the street from my college campus had dozens of leaves in a row, thousands of droplets on each leaf, hanging down--I did not take a photo because my camera was four miles away, home and under my bed.

I didn't photograph the smile I had on my face that one day that one time that one year.

I did not take a picture of the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen.

I didn't take a picture of anything today because it was overcast and we all know overcast makes for washed out pictures and I am, quite frankly, getting tired of Seattle.

Today I did not photograph a black man wearing bright yellow sunglasses that made his entire face an eerie yellow and eyes look extremely powerful and haunting. This is the best portrait I never took.