Stremel (streh’ mull) – To “Stremel”, it’s been “Stremelled”, I’ve been “Stremelling”.

Definition – the act of making an image largely through the use of luck. Term coined in reference to one Doug Stremel – the luckiest shooter on earth (although one Bruce Snell has also been instrumental in the development of the technique).

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These blown-glass bird baths were on display outside of a garden shop. I went wide with my 17-35mm Nikkor and blindly held the camera underneath them pointing up to the overcast sky. It was all luck from there — no careful framing or focus point selection — just hoping for the best.

I’ve seen both my brother, Bruce, and Doug using this technique and I have to say that they look a little odd doing it. Or maybe they just look a little odd. I don’t know. Anyway, I’ve found myself following their lead on several occasions lately — recklessly abandoning the use of the viewfinder — and it’s almost always worked out well. Go figure.