Going SomewhereTaken by Helen Bajorek-MacDonald in Nancy, France, 2010

There she was, standing on a street sidewalk in Nancy, France, watching intently for the traffic light to give her the green 'go'.  While she held on to her scooter, her body seemed tense with anticipation ... or was it determination?

She reminded me of a sprinter straining in her starting blocks; ready, set, ...

But, which direction would she take?  Left?  Right?

I took a chance that she'd turn left and hurried to find the best backdrop for a photograph, focused my camera on the black bollard across the street, and waited and watched with my hopeful eyes looking both through the lens and out the peripheral edge to the girl with the scooter.

As soon as the traffic light gave her the green 'go!' I saw her sprint across the street, drop the scooter; ready, set, ... CLICK!

Later, when I saw the photo on my screen, I was thrilled to see that I had captured the moment of her joy and movement:  her expression, the flow of her dress, her foot following through the push from the ground ...

And right away I knew I would title the image "Going Somewhere".

This image was shortlisted in the Toronto Star Photography Competition (June 2014).  I was glad that I am not alone in celebrating the joy of the girl on the scooter!

- Helen