Departure

"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him keep step to the music he hears, however measured and far away." ~ Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862)

Take off... just a little too fast for this photographer.

...But I eventually caught up.

This mallard male made a sudden departure, taking off from a small pond in the botanical gardens. I wasn't quick enough to keep from cutting off his head, but then I realized that the water trail and his retracting landing gear were just as interesting and the feeling of motion in his wings with the shadow on the water surface told the story better than a complete and centered picture. Of course I did catch up with him on the next shot.

Anna likes the off centered or partially cropped shot and I do too. But this was a complete accident. Have you accidentally taken pictures that seemed off-kilter but then grew on you?

Submission for Thursday Challenge topic "motion". (end of post)