Portraits

Photo class, day four. The teacher gave us a VERY challenging assignment. Here it is:

1. Time limit, 1 hour
2. 5 or 6 photos of a person
3. Two or three of the photos have to be shot without the person being aware of it
4. Two or three of the photos have to be shot after you have introduced yourself to the person, explained what you are doing, and then asked if you could snap some more pictures.

SERIOUSLY! It was challenging. Talk about stepping out of my comfort zone. I am quite comfortable taking pictures of objects they sit still, and just wait for me to take the photo. But people, that's a whole different situation. I mean, people look back and you, a person may expect something of you!!! Argh. So I went out to take the photos. The first thing that I had trouble with was taking people's pictures incognito, as it were. Even though we had the whole discussion about how legally people who are out in public, on public property have no privacy rights (hello paparazzi!) - it still felt a little strange to me picking out people to clandestinely photograph. I even used my zoom lens, for the first time in the class, because I would have to get too close to be sneaky with my prime lens. I went to Bryant Park, which is near the school, and currently has an ice skating rink open. Plenty of people. The first three people that I choose to photograph got up and left before I could talk to them. Then I saw this young lady with her friends, watching the skaters. Her appearance caught my eye, and strangely, I did not feel apprehensive to talk to her. Actually, Mom, if you look at this girl - you will probably see why I was not intimidated by her!
So here are the series that I shot, it's pretty clear when she began posing for me! And pose, she did - but I got a natural one, at the end. And I got her email address, so forward the photos to her. It was a difficult assignment - and I really need to practice capturing people, as well as things. Just maybe people I know, next time!

ISO 400
f/ 5.0
1/320
96mm

ISO 400
f/ 5.0
1/320
96mm

ISO 400
f/ 5.0
1/100
50 mm (back to my prime lens)

 ISO 400

f/ 2.8

1/500

50 mm

ISO 400
f/ 8.0
1/60
50 mm

Here is a pic of Nidal that I took in the morning, before I left for class. Just because I love it!

More on my class in a minute.....

xoxoxo
umm nidal