Not one, but TWO bucket list photos for me this spring in Boston.

Most photographers have what we refer to as Bucket List photos - photos we’ve thought about, planned in our heads, maybe even dreamed of, that one day, when the timing is just perfect and the stars align, we’ll be right there, in the perfect spot, prepared to click the button. As famous photographer Ansel Adams once said, “Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter.”

This spring in Boston, I managed to capture TWO such photos on my personal photo “bucket list”..

Boston Marathon Finish Line in the Rain.

I’ve been after this bucket list photo for NINE years.

My wife is an amazing athlete. She qualifies for, and runs the Boston Marathon every year. For the last nine years, every spring we head to Boston for the marathon. Since we started going, I’ve imagined photographing right there on the Boston Marathon finish line. This year, through sheer luck, it happened. What made it even better, there was periodic rain throughout the day, which I feel adds to the image.

Huge “thank you” to Point32Health for making this happen for me this year!

Bagpiper, Old South Church Boston

While we’re in Boston, we visit Old South Church for their “Blessing of the Athletes” service, usually on Sunday morning, the day before the Boston Marathon. It’s an amazing old church built in the 1870’s, and the service they put on for the athletes before the marathon is always amazingly powerful. Each year, the service ends with a single bagpipe player, playing Highland Cathedral. It’s incredibly beautiful and very emotional.

Every year, I imagine this very shot, bagpiper in the middle of the isle, in the center of the church as Highland Cathedral plays. And finally - I got the shot. =)

Ryan