Opinion : The legend of the accursed camera

I do not believe I am superstitious.

I do not think that what I do in any particular area of life has an impact on any other area.

I ignore Friday the 13th. I like black cats. I have walked under too many ladders and broken too many mirrors to worry about a lifetime of bad luck.

But still, I don't think it's superstitious if at times, you decide that certain events that seem unrelated to what you are doing are sending you a message.

Let me explain:

All season long, I have been looking for an opportunity to take photos of the V-S Vikings track team, as they kept winning meets throughout the season. I had earlier forgotten to check the calendar, so I missed the Early Bird meet. Finally, the Vikes had a home meet on a night that I was available (and also that I remembered).

So I went.

I had my camera set to the fast sports setting. I tested the lenses. I practiced zooming in on the competition areas.

The photos turned out fine, the results were not so good.

Instead of winning, our guys struggled. That happens, says coaches.

I didn't think much about it until exactly a week later, last Thursday, May 10.

First I went to the high jump area; I got there too late to take photos of the competition.

"Kelyn won," said his father. "He jumped 6-2."

Wow, I thought. That's six inches higher than he did when I was here to take his photo.

Then I walked over to the track area, where the boys 4 x 8 team had just competed. "They set a school record," said Mr. Kingsbury.

Indeed they did. They were a full 14 seconds faster than they were a week earlier, when I was there to take photos of all four of them. They were the fastest qualifiers in Class 3A.

That's when I realized it was time to go home.

I explained to a few people what had happened, and the difference in the results my camera seemed to make.

"Go home," said one mom.

"Don't take photos of my kid," said another.

Not everyone agreed with them.

"It’s like fishing," said one grandfather. "You just gotta know when and where to show up."

But I had already made up my mind.

It was time for me to leave.

So, to the Vinton Vikings heading to Des Moines: Kelyn, Wyatt, Nolan and Chase: Good luck is your destiny, gentlemen, for my camera and I will be far away.