The biggest almost-caught fish ever
Tommy Olszewski III knows how to fish.
He’s got the clothes, he’s got the boots, he’s got his pole, and he knows exactly where to stand.
Last weekend I headed out to Muskego County Park for a kids’ fishing clinic, put on by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Luck was on my side, and I found something a bit unexpected.
There he was. My new best friend, Tommy: A 10-year-old boy dressed head to toe in camouflage, standing on a fallen tree, at least 20 feet off the shoreline. He was working his hardest to catch the fish swimming in the shade of the tree branches. This kid knows where to look, I thought.
He got a few bites, but his patience was wearing a bit thin. Eventually, Tommy decided to ditch the tree branch, reel in his line, and literally try to catch the fish with his bare hands.
As a photojournalist, one thing I never can get enough of is witnessing these types of moments. I’m humbled by the numbers of people who graciously let my camera and I into their lives. Although my name has appeared under thousands of photos in various newspapers, I have never been approached by a newspaper photographer and asked if I can be photographed — I’ve never had my picture in the paper. I often wonder what people are thinking when I’m snapping away. I never hope to be intrusive, but I always hope to be honest in telling the story.
If any of you have stories to tell about a time you (or your child) appeared in the newspaper, I’d love to hear them. Good stories and bad. Please feel free to comment below.
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.