My assignment: opening evening at Conejo Valley Days in Thousand Oaks. The problem: doors open @ 5 p.m., I have to have my photos in to the office by 8 p.m. to make it for the front of the next day's B-section. Yes, not the most stressful situation I've been in at my job, but stressful nonetheless since the crowds don't arrive right away.

Then, I saw Kyle Warner riding the Wacky Worm. The biggest drop on this mini-coaster ride was probably ten feet at most. By his expression, which showed how much he enjoyed the ride, it could have been ten times more. After I shot him and knew that I had at least one good photo from this event, I relaxed a little. In a way it "opened my eyes" so to speak, and I found that my job seemed so much simpler.  I had opened up and despite conditions being pretty much the same, I found other interesting things to shoot easily. 

I didn't realize at the time, but on some level I adopted Kyle's approach to life, or at least his attitude toward his ride on the Worm. Even though it may not have been the biggest thrill ride at the carnival, I'm sure he imagined it that way. His enthusiasm was infectious(yes, I did make my deadline, I had my photos in by 7:30). 

Thanks Kyle.