I second all of the above except I'm compelled to come to the defense of the OP re. the comment about luck. Most photographers know that nothing works like putting in the time. Yes, one can get lucky. But more often, you get the shot because you spent many hours/days working and waiting for it.
Also, having lived in Colorado, I know that sightings of river otters there are rare. I saw one in five years of frequent hiking. However, where I live now in western Oregon, they are very common. Perhaps they are common in northern Cali as well.
Anyway, assuming that a photographer got lucky is assuming he didn't work for the shot. Just sayin'...