Ok, so this may be my most embarrassing photography story ever. Back at the start of 2012 I was set to have my wisdom teeth taken out before Danny and I got married. Everything went super well with the procedure and the last number I remember counting down to was 7. I was out! The car ride home consisted of me telling everyone that they "poofed" my teeth out. I have no recollection of this. Suffice to say, pain meds and I go together like loopy on a clown. (Is that even a phrase?) For your viewing pleasure; here is a picture that Danny took of me when I got home. I do not remember this picture being taken. - Not my best look! hahaha!

     Anyways, fast forward two days and I've got my sea legs back. One thing you should know, I was so scared of wisdom teeth hurting, that I was excellent at staying on top of my pain pills. I was prescribed Percocet. Danny, being the good fiance that he was (and with a good case of cabin fever, I'm sure!) decided it would be fun to go out to Tracy Aviary. His parents came along too. I honestly don't remember much of that day either. Due to it being 6 years ago or the Percocet, i'll let you decide. haha! Anyways we are walking along and looking at all the birds when up ahead I see a Peacock!

     In my head I'm thinking, "Wow! Look at that cool Peacock! If only there was a girl Peacock around so that it would open up it's feathers!" As we are walking closer, I see a female peacock come out! I am so excited at this point! I casually suggest to Danny and my in-laws that we should herd the birds together so that the boy peacock will open his feathers! Nevermind that I'm screaming with excitement on the inside at my brilliant plan. Surprisingly, Danny and my Mom in law don't share my excitement and are not helping me herd. But to my utter joy, my Dad in law thinks my idea is stellar and proceeds to shuffle the birds towards each other. All while Mom and Danny laugh at their significant others. 

     We spend a good 5 to 10 minutes trying to get the dang birds together, but no luck. Danny suggests moving on, but I have to get that shot! So I settle for just the boy peacock, feathers down. By now it had moved over by one of the fences, so I climb up to take a picture. Balancing myself and the camera, I lean in, compose that shot, and take it. I HAVE DONE IT. I remember thinking, "This is the best picture I have ever taken in my life." We hurry through the rest of the Aviary and go home. I immediately whip out my laptop, import my pictures and edit "the shot." Still drugged up on Percocet, I upload it that second to Facebook for that days' "Picture of the Day."

     It wasn't until the next day that a sober Whitney logs onto Facebook, only to see THIS!

     Horrified, I examine my picture that I thought was a pivotal moment in my career. IT WAS THE WORST PICTURE I HAVE EVER TAKEN. Like, just look at it! Blurry, out of focus and I totally cut off half of the tail! So embarrassing. I could not believe that I had thought I had shot THE picture. 

     Fast forward to this year, 2018, and I'm back at Tracy Aviary shooting a charity event, Breakfast with the Birds. I arrived early to set up and get my gear ready. Since I have some time to kill, I casually walk around the grounds, when up ahead I see the Peacock! Chuckling, I remember my last encounter with it, but then, time stands still as it OPENS UP IT'S TAIL, proudly displaying it's feathers! "This would make Percocet Whitney so happy!" I thought. But it doesn't stop there, walking closer I see that there is a SECOND PECOCK, TAILS OUT! This must be Christmas, or karma's way of sending me a redeeming chance to take the picture. 

     I followed both of the Peacocks around for awhile - until I started attracting weird looks from the guests and workers. But I got the shot. There you go, Percocet Whitney. You have been redeemed. May you and photography never mix again.