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Zeeg
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# Posted: 18 Jan 09 21:13
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Hello all !
I discovered the word « Serendipity » just a few years ago, translated by “Sérendipité” in French. What does it mean ? It is the faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident, and the fact or occurrence of such discoveries.
This word was created in 1754 by an English author (Walpole) who formed it on an old name for Sri Lanka, Serendip. He explained that this name was part of the title of "a silly fairy tale, called The Three Princes of Serendip: as their highnesses traveled, they were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things which they were not in quest of...."
Well!...after this short cultural introduction, let’s come to the topic ! During your life of photographer, you have probably met such situations where you have made unexpected and sometimes great pictures.
I met for example “serendipity” during a trip to Mongolia in August 2006. I was walking to a pass, in the area of Erdene-Dzuu. On my left there was a cliff, and close to the top, a very large and high cylindrical cluster of branches. That was a nest, but what a nest ! It was pretty close and not to difficult to reach. Moved by the idea of making a picture with the large and desert plain in the background, I started climbing…
When I arrived there I discovered an enormous bird on the top! I was so close that I would have been able to touch it. Fortunately that was only a “baby” but really big (not far from 1 meter from the beak to the tail) and the parents didn’t see me ! They were in fact hunting on the other side of the mountain and I saw them later after crossing the pass. This bird is a “Monk Vulture” (Aegypius monachus), one of the biggest birds in the world with a 3 meters wingspan !
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Zeeg
Member
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# Posted: 19 Jan 09 23:55
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Sorry, but when I edited the post, focussed on my story, I missed to be clear in my question.
So, said more simply have you some examples of your favorite pictures made by accident, on a lucky break or due to a fortunate combination of circumstances.
Thanks for sharing.
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Christian C
Member
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# Posted: 20 Jan 09 00:41
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Thanks for this interesting topic.
I was riding a bicycle along the canal when I saw a big beetle perched on an iron stake. I stopped and I had enough time to take a dozen of photos before this Lucane cerf-volant took off.
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Zeeg
Member
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# Posted: 20 Jan 09 20:52
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Thanks Christian, excellent macro, and a good example of unexpected encounter !
I like specially the first picture.
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catkiller
Member
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# Posted: 20 Jan 09 22:45
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A few months back, whilst diving in Mexico , I was lucky enough to find this cute little turtle on the way to the surface to breath.
We were in the middle of the dive so I couldn't really follow it to the surface (I'm not going to go into details about the dangers of diving and ascending to the surface etc) It was also a very strong current so I took this picture quickly
As I looked back to say goodbye, I realized it was on course to something special...
And then... It happened!!!
I was witnessing A TURTLE ECLIPSE!!!
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Zeeg
Member
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# Posted: 21 Jan 09 08:15
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Nice moment and beautiful pics catkiller ... and good sense of humor !
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Pam H
Member
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# Posted: 23 Jan 09 03:57
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Was taking photos of the fish at Rio Grand Zoo... this one was hungry!
I love the movie Finding Nemo.... I was trying to capture the fish that looked like dory and this is what i got.
I was just trying to get a photo of a dragonfly.... caught a really cool reflection.
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Dieuwertje
Member
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# Posted: 23 Jan 09 17:34
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I made this shot of the moon, after uploading the pict I saw he had abig smile 
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Zeeg
Member
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# Posted: 24 Jan 09 13:24
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Surprising and nice pics ! Thanks
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Zeeg
Member
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# Posted: 16 Jul 09 11:04 - Edited by: Zeeg
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An excellent example on the Aline's blog : Serendipidity or the ghost boat
And a recent "lucky shot"
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Dieuwertje
Member
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# Posted: 16 Jul 09 17:25
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When I focust at the stamen of the flower an humble bee came in, I cropped the photo a bit, and here he is.
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