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!
10 Comments
Earl
Monte, don’t you just love it when “a” plan comes together, even if it wasn’t “your” plan. 😉
You couldn’t have hired models as wonderful as these even if you’d tried…arranged in order of size and everything. Wonderful photo!
I like that post-processing effect you did as well.
Monte Stevens
Thanks, Earl. Yes, we both know any “plan” will work. 🙂
Don
I also like the post-processing.
I wouldn’t worry until you see your picture on AMW.
Monte Stevens
LOL Wonder if they would use my profile image.
QPB (Mary Ann)
Shoot me a note if you need bail money or a psychologist to sign you out. I’m there.
Nice work as always and the writing is its usual fun style.
Hope you are well. Mary Ann
Monte Stevens
Well. I could use 20 bucks anytime. 🙂 It’s good to see you back on here again and glad you enjoyed the visit. Again, hope all is well in your home!
Paul
Absolutely perfect, Monte. it certainly paid to wait, even though you didn’t know what you were waiting for. 🙂
Monte Stevens
It makes me think of that famous saying “f2.5, under expose by 1/3 of a stop and be there” or something like that. Of course we need to have a camera with us whether we’re totting a Nikon, Canon, Leica, Hassy or phone. Luck never hurts, either. 🙂
Alan M. Collopy
Monte,
I love this photo. Great composition and the perfect subjects. I’ve shot many kid photos, mostly Youth Sports, and I usually shoot from the front, because I like to capture their expressions, but this one is awesome.
Alan
Monte Stevens
Thanks, Alan. I agree but the faceless children are what really make this image work for me.