Your Favorite Shot That Will Never Sell

We all have them, those shots that you love because of the circumstances, the randomness or the difficulty of grabbing that shot. Unfortunately the picture will never sell. Maybe it's a little fuzzy, somebody's head is in the way, whatever. Still you love it.

While on vacation I got one of those. We were on a cruise in the Caribbean. In the middle of the ocean. Some goodies had just been delivered to our cabin and as I was walking back into the cabin I saw a dolphin jump out of the water. Grabbing me camera I raced out onto the balcony and got two shots of him, one with him completely out of the water. he was really far away so I have to crop the photo and enlarge it to see him very well. As a result the shot is fuzzy. No way is it sellable. Still, it will be hanging on my wall. Just the fact that I was able to capture a shot of a dolphin jumping out of the water in the middle of the ocean is just so cool. When I tell people about it I ask thenm what they think the odds are of not only seeing a dolphin at sea, but actually getting a picture of one. Of course the answer is 100% since I did it.

So, what shots have you caught that you love but would never be able to sell?

next week we can discuss that once in a lifetime shot that got ruined.

Robert:
I have a framed 11 x14 print of an elderly Eskimo lady in full native regalia taken in 1989 on a trip to the arctic hanging on my living room wall. It was taken at midnight on June 21st at Inuvik in the NW Territories at a ceremony to celebrate the summer solstice . She was a member of the McKenzie Delta drummers and dancers who had performed in Greenland, Norway and other northern locations. I have never scanned the image or had an desire to sell it. The subject was in her 80s at the time so not likely available to do a reshoot.
The group was formed not only to demonstrate the native dances and ceremonies but also to teach the younger people the native language as many children were not able to communicate with their grandparents who didn't speak English or French.
Some things are just not for sale.
Mel

-------------------------
http://www.hiwestern.com
I am sure the next step will be the electronic image, and hope I shall live to see it. I trust that the creative eye will continue to function ,whatever technological innovations may develop.
Ansel Adams-1983

Good topic.

There are many shots we think are among our best and for some reason they don't sell. It's basically hit or miss and everyone of course, has has different tastes. The important thing to me is that I am selling consistently, no so much what I am selling. But if you give it enough time, a great image should ultimately sell.

Steve

-------------------------
My SP Photos

Edited: 07/31/2012 at 12:07 PM by Stephen Vecchiotti