You call yourself a "Pro" and you _still_ make mistakes??

It's easy to get the impression watching all the slick, scripted presentations that professionals seldom, if ever, make mistakes. In reality however, even the most experienced professional screws up from time to time.

Fortunately, I've never made a mistake myself. Welll.... ok, ok... if I think real hard and tap into the part of my brain that represses traumatic experiences, perhaps I could come up with one. Or maybe two... three... OK! *dozens*!

Most recent perhaps was at the end of a rather expensive, multi-leg aerial photo shoot. As the pilot began to bank over the target, I got an "Error 99". True professional that I am, I got a bit excited, but did not panic. Quickly popped the battery out, reseated it and fired away.

I did notice between shots that the previews didn't look quite right, but figured it was just the sunlight coming in over the pilot's shoulder and I was too busy concentrating on the job at hand.

Did not figure out until a few minutes later as we were on final approach, that somehow in my haste to correct the card error, I had cranked up my aperture setting about 4 full stops.

If it's true what they say about mistakes making you better, I figure I'm pretty near perfect by now. Fortunately I do try to learn from each one and come up with systems try and make sure they don't happen again.

Of course you're much more of a "pro" and would never, ever make this kind of a silly mistake, right??