Luck plays a huge part in breaking...

Luck plays a huge part in breaking news photographs. It’s impossible

to tell when and where something might happen. You have to watch and

wait -- especially when police are involved in a stand-off.

I had just arrived at the scene at Corona del Mar Plaza Wednesday

and was learning about a stand-off situation when someone yelled

“something’s about to happen!” I ran up to a tree branch to secure

the 600-millimeter lens and pointed in the direction of the Jewels by

Joseph jewelry store just as the suspect in an attempted jewelry

heist came out, stopped, and turned to face the SWAT team. I had a

perfect sight line to the front door of the store. But that wasn’t

all. When they arrested the man they brought him straight in my

direction, off the curb and into the parking lot -- away from

everyone else.

Since this was the big “moment,” I continued to watch the action

through the lens and noticed that if the SWAT team moved slowly I

could get the suspect and the SWAT team in one shot, as they moved to

the front of store. I got both. Stay focused ....

-- Don Leach