The attempt to sabotage a photographer’s chances ended up creating the most memorable image of his career.
Everyone at the regional zoo photography competition knew he was the favorite. Year after year, his elephant photographs stood out, and he had earned a reputation for being one of the friendliest people there, always gracious even when others hoped someone else would finally take the top prize.
So when a zoo insider quietly helped a competing friend, they thought they had found the perfect way to stop him. He was assigned the worst elephant viewing slot of the day, a time when the elephants were usually resting and inactive. Since his winning images often showcased their strength, movement, and personality, it seemed like a guaranteed disadvantage. He realized exactly what was happening, but instead of arguing or complaining, he simply picked up his camera and headed in as if nothing had changed.
When he arrived, he found an elephant peacefully resting among a pile of old tires, completely still, with a small butterfly perched on its trunk. Rather than trying to force a dramatic shot, he patiently waited. Moments later, the elephant opened its eyes and awkwardly crossed them to look at the butterfly sitting inches from its face.
The result was one of the funniest and most unexpected wildlife photographs anyone at the event had ever seen. 😂
The image went on to win the competition and quickly spread far beyond it, becoming a reminder that sometimes the obstacle meant to hold you back ends up leading directly to your greatest opportunity.
Pope Leo got an unexpected earthly windfall: $8.65 that he left in an old Paypal account in the U.S. The proceeds of the papal Paypal were presented by an official from Illinois.
A man tried opening an emergency exit during a flight. Unfortunately for him, there was a Jiu-Jitsu guy on board. This man has spent thousands of hours training for a scenario that had a 0.0001% chance of happening and finally got his moment.
Presenting one of GQ’s three Summer issue covers with the leading men of @odysseymovie: Robert Pattinson as Antinous
Pattinson talks to @zachbaron about teaming up with Christopher Nolan again alongside co-stars Matt Damon and Tom Holland: https://t.co/QV6UqSITxr
The Od Squad for GQ.
See GQ’s full Summer cover story with the stars of The Odyssey: Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson, and Tom Holland https://t.co/2V8SyRIiGD