Opera Singer

While this image is only a snapshot, it shows a lot, therefore putting it in a class by itself. It's candid photography, which, according to me, doesn't have to be technically perfect. (Yes, I know there's a shadow under her chin.)

This image is good because you can identify what this women does by the picture. She's an opera singer. You can kind of just tell by her outfit (a shoulderless dress) and by the expression on her face (she's singing).

The amazing thing about this candid shot is that she's performing while walking around an art gallery--no music, no chorus to help here along.

She's on her own.

Circle of Light

A painter at Palm Springs Village Fest shows his wares while he works. The perspective of this image is deepened by the circle of light that surrounds the artist in ever direction. Think of the image as having, not only as two-dimensional with an x and y axis with the light reaching up and down along y and right and left along x, but also having a z axis which extends up throughout the picture, making it look 3 dimensional.

Just in case you wanted to know, in spite of the rather technical conversation above, the photograph was candid, that is I didn't even think about the dimensions. I just saw good light and then framed and shot it.

Object Size in Photography

This picture says a lot about the size of people and objects. In photography it's a nice effect when you compare the sizes of things.

One never thinks of a small person in terms of an old cranker of car. The car looks really big compared the boy, making it seem much bigger than it really is.

The woman on the left side of the image gives a third object so that your eye is making an evaluation not just on the car, but also on her and she, too, looks really large because the boy is the main object in the picture. He's the object to which you compare all other objects.

A Couple in Downtown Chicago

Guess.com on bag lets viewer know that image was taken after late 90s.


Woman's style is twenty-first centuryish.


Couple is upper middle or upper class because they're wearing some really expensive clothes.

You don't necessarily need a person's face to give your photograph expression.

I find that photographs of people from about mid-thigh down can tell a great story.

This couple as indicated in the captions has some bucks. This couple is stylish. This couple walks with determination.

Please submit a comment as to what you think of this photo set in terms of the story it tells.

Shoes in a Tree

Some people write messages on the shoes in the shoe tree near Amboy, CA.


Other people write the date when they hung a pair of shoes on the tree.


Some of the shoes appear to be hanging in groups.


The shoe tree about a block from Amboy, CA.


Amboy, CA is marked on this map.

Here's a bit of candid photography for you--hundreds of shoes hanging from a tree in, where else, but California.

About a block from Amboy is the shoe tree. It's a holy place, I'd guess, where people hang their extra shoes.

If you see it from a distance it looks like a bunch of shoes hanging from a tree.

But if you look up close you'll find messages on some of the shoes.

Some shoes have a date on them, the date they were hung on the tree.

Just a little offbeat news for those inclined to read about weird stuff.

Candid Photography on the Highway

On the way back from BlogExpo, I stopped in Kelso, CA to photograph some abandoned properties. Noone was around and there was easy access to the property because it was right off the road.

One usually photographs only the outside of such properties, but the real action is in the inside.

What do you think? Have you ever photographed an abandoned building or house?

Asian Girl

A candid shot of an Asian girl.

Candid Sisters

Candid photography requires you to be quick.

I saw these two sisters in a van when I was in a small town in Mexico, just outside of Guadalajara.

I thought it was fascinating how the two girls and their parents agreed to let photograph (and were happy about it) from my perspective outside of the van window.

I thought the girls were not only pretty, but unique in that, when you first glance at them, you might be persuaded that they are twins. When you look at them a little longer, it's obvious that they're not. If you look closely, there are many differences between the two.

Candid photography is unique in that you can get away with small technical errors (some would disagree, saying any technical errors is not good photography). As you can see the lighting is off, but I like it because it really gives the atmosphere that you're inside some sort of vehicle with a brown interior.

Solitary Figure

This candid shot is a great example of the power of the solitary figure. The shot has some motion blur, that could be substantiated by the woman's movement forward (some would probably argue with me on that one).

The element that stands out the most is subtle. It's the shape and form of the figure; it's an hour glass. The woman's dress is tapered just right to accentuate her great figure and it shows up well in the photograph. Also, the contrasting shapes of the umbrella and the handbag make for an interesting sideline.

How fun it is to critique your own photos! You may want to take a look at my other post about photo critiquing.

Color or Black and White?

Here's an interesting image (I think, anyway); one that you could find in an art gallery.

Why?

Because it tells a story, one of how things get discarded, one of how fast technology changes, and one of randomness.

But the real question I have is which photo do you like better, the one in black and white or the one in color. Leave a comment below.

Oh So LA

Caught this at the Grove in LA. A bit of candid photography.

Islamic Photographic Quandry

As a matter of religious respect, I'm going to eliminate photographs of people in posts from Islamic countries.
Not that I want to as their are so many tempting candid people pics, but everytime I tried, I felt it was not worth the effort.
Aside from that, people in this day and age in the media seem obsessed with head-covered women.
I'll go with Islamic art, thanks.