This is the first in a new series of posts where I will be sharing the stories behind the images. While not every image has an interesting story, some of the images in my gallery came about through unusual, funny, or strange circumstances. This is the story of one of them.

This story is a bit embarrassing, but since one of my most popular images came out of it, I suppose I should tell.

This image was taken in 2011. Suffice to say, I’ve learned a lot since then, but this is one of the lessons that really stuck with me.

Staying at Harris Beach campground, near Brookings, Oregon, it’s usually a given that there will be at least one spectacular sunset during the trip. And Harris Beach State Park has several places, set up with benches where people like to view the sunsets. On this particular evening, I set off from camp to go capture some sunset photographs at one of these vista points. I packed my camera, with the right lens pre-attached, carefully into my bag and grabbed my tripod. The walk from camp to the vista point would take approximately ten minutes.

When I arrived at the spot, there were already a handful of people there taking in the view. I put down my pack and proceeded to extend the tripod legs, moving around and looking for just the right spot. All the while, the other people at the viewpoint were commenting about how “professional” I was and asking me questions about photography. This was quite an ego boost, since I had only been serious about photography for a couple of years.

As I confidently answered their questions, I opened my pack and took out the camera, now satisfied with the tripod’s position. As I started to mount the camera on the tripod, I noticed the quick release plate, which is always attached to the bottom of the camera, was missing. The plate is needed to attach the camera to the tripod.

At that point, I began a frantic search through my bag trying to locate the critical piece of equipment. By now the sun was beginning to set and the others were snapping away with their phones and pocket cameras. Meanwhile, I was digging through my camera bag.

Suddenly, I realized that the plate was attached to my telephoto lens, back in the camper. I had been shooting osprey earlier in the day and had moved the quick release plate from the camera to the long lens in order to steady my shots of the birds.

The same people who had been asking me for photography advice just moments before were now watching me with puzzled expressions as I failed in attaching my camera to the tripod. I knew if I walked back to camp to fetch the part I needed, the sun would be gone by the time I came back.

So, with a very red face, and my over-inflated ego popped, I folded up the tripod and found a place on the guard rail/fence to set my camera. As the curious looks spread around the viewpoint, I clumsily explained how I had forgotten my tripod mount plate and would now have to improvise. Moments before, I was being admired and stroked for my “professionalism.” Now, I was awkwardly attempting to get a few shots with my camera balanced on a fence rail. Talk about a lesson in humility!

The upside to this story is that having to use the fence put me at a lower point of view than I originally intended. Thus allowing the plants to become a prominent foreground element and adding some extra color to the image. And, I now own a spare quick release plate, which stays permanently in my bag for just such an occasion.