• Candid Portraits

    Short Shorts

    August 5, 2010
    Short Shorts

    I’ll probably get a lot of flak for this image but here it is anyway. While in Portland last week we tried to get on a harbor cruise to see the lighthouses, one of those touristy things to do. It was sold out but if we waited a few minutes they would know if there were any no-shows. I sat on a low bench to get in some people watching. As my eyes roamed around I noticed these young girls walk up to the ticket window. That’s when I realized just how low the bench was and the perspective it offered me. When I was in my 20’s or 30’s or 40’s or 50’s, short shorts would always catch my attention. Now that I’m in my 60’s I must admit short shorts still catch my attention. However, I respond differently. I now ask why they dress like this while back then that question never entered my mind. I just smiled and stared. Since I had my camera with me, a low perspective :-), and I had a subject of attraction, I took one shot. Short shorts for sure.

    Read More
  • Candid Portraits,  People/Portraits

    Posing

    July 30, 2010
    Posing

    I mentioned a few days ago about a new coffee shop (hangout) I found in Old Gahanna. I think it is going to be a nice hit for the people in the area. It’s also next to a Cold Stones Creamery (which can be trouble), a couple of decent restaurants and a couple of bars. Anyway, I witnessed an interesting scene on that first visit. While sitting inside enjoying the air-conditioning, I noticed this young child perched one of the tables outside the coffee shop. She had a couple of siblings with her and all were dressed in white. A photographer was shooting some outdoor family portraits and was using the tables as props. Since the photographer, and the mother, were working hard to get her to pose, I figured I needed to shoot at least one image from my angle. Not sure what his images looked like but her pose worked just fine for me.

    Read More
  • Candid Portraits,  coffee shops,  lifestyles

    Three Amigos

    June 26, 2010
    Three Amigos

    Okay, so I’m in this coffee shop near the airport in Charleston and I see these bar stools and I love their patten, and I love the color and I love the wood texture. So, my mind starts to work and envision how I want this image to come alive. I try a few frames with just the bar stools but it ain’t happening. I figure a coffee cup on the bar would help but it still ain’t happening. I change the color of the cup but again it ain’t happening. People around me are starting to worry, I can see it in their faces. They’re probably asking questions like, “What the heck is this strange guy trying to do?” or “What hospital did he escape from?” (And, let’s not tell them, okay.) I notice a mother and her daughter are just smiling at me, that feels real uncomfortable. The baristas in the coffee shop are wondering how they can get me to leave, I can see it in their eyes. Things are getting uncomfortable, so I sit back down at my table, put my camera on the table and sheepishly smile at everyone.

    And then it happened. A mother and father with three children come in to enjoy a cool drink on this hot day. The children climb up on the stools and now I have the image in front of me. It’s right there! I quietly ask the father permission to take a few shots. The silly man agrees.

    After taking the previous images I know what exposure I needed to use. Two frames was all I needed then some adjustments with Lightroom and Topaz Adjust to create this image. I like it. It was fun. I also liked the process of its creation. And, thankfully, no one called the cops or the hospital. Whew!

    Read More
  • Candid Portraits,  Documentary/Street,  People/Portraits

    Reading

    May 30, 2010
    Reading

    The day this image was taken the sky was clear, there was no breeze and it was hot! Yes, the temperature was in the low 90’s in Ottawa, Canada. And, like any unthinking flight crew, we decided to walk around the park area near the Parliament building, get a little exercise and then have something to eat. We’ll blame this decision on the first officer as they get the blame for everthing. Anyway, this young lady had found a place in the shade and was totally engrossed in her book. It looked peaceful to me, even with a group of loud school children just off to our left. I added a bit of Topaz Adjust and gave it a feeling of a painting.

    Read More
  • Candid Portraits,  Documentary/Street,  People/Portraits

    Radiating Light

    May 29, 2010
    Natural Light

    A favorite bookstore has an upper level with several lounging type chairs that can literally swallow you. There always seems to be people settled in the chairs with either their laptop or a book. And every once in a while I’ve found people comfortably asleep. Todays trip to the bookstore found this young lady with her laptop and a beam of radiating light coming from the skylights.

    Read More
  • Candid Portraits,  Cityscapes/Urban,  Documentary/Street,  lifestyles,  People/Portraits

    Too Much Sugar

    May 21, 2010
    Too Much Sugar

    We had time yesterday morning to head to downtown Savannah before our late afternoon flight. We attempted to eat lunch at Paula Deans restaurant, The Lady and Son’s, but it was too long a wait. Our walk through the city lead us into three candy stores, each one offering samples of their goods. Being willing customers, we took our share of these samples. After a while the sugar rush kicks in and scenes such as above happen. 🙂 Here is Eugene and Ali all sugared up.

    Marilyn and Monte

    Along City Market I ran into Marilyn  so Eugene took a photo with her showing me a little leg.

    Read More