Dragon Lady

[SCraig]

I seldom shoot people, however I took this at the Nashville Dragon Boat Races yesterday. This lady gave the welcoming speech and I shot this as she was coming down the steps from the stage. She is a naturally beautiful woman and the expression on her face really added to it.

A couple of things I already know:

o It would be better if she were further to the left. Even though the original shot was a full-body shot I cropped it too tightly and had no room to move her left.

o It isn't as sharp as it should be. Also my mistake. Early yesterday was dark overcast and I was shooting at ISO 1600 and picked up some noise. Plus it's heavily cropped since, as I mentioned, it was originally a full-body shot.

C&C is welcome. I very seldom shoot people, critters are a lot easier for me, but I kind of liked this one.

 

[tirediron]

Not much to add to your own points Scott; I really like the expression you've captured here. If you looked up "demure" in the dictionary, this would be the picture it should have.

 

[SCraig]

Not much to add to your own points Scott; I really like the expression you've captured here. If you looked up "demure" in the dictionary, this would be the picture it should have.

Thanks, John (and Snowbear). "Demure" is the word I was searching for, and it fits perfectly. This was, obviously, just a candid shot but her expression spoke volumes to me. I've been kicking myself since I took it for not dropping the ISO down and not framing it better, but it's what I got and I won't have any more.

 

[snowbear119 51]

No, thank you for sharing this. I rarely shoot people as well. I did one at the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC this past spring of a woman walking along the Tidal Basin with a parasol. I really like it, but it's not a great shot.

 

[SCraig]

No, thank you for sharing this. I rarely shoot people as well. I did one at the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC this past spring of a woman walking along the Tidal Basin with a parasol. I really like it, but it's not a great shot.

I'm pretty much the same way. The only time I photograph people is at events where they would expect to be photographed. I also shot some at a Cherry Blossom Festival here last spring, at the Renaissance Festival, this Dragon Boat Race, and other events like that. I don't just walk along the street photographing people on the street.

This isn't a great shot either. It might have been had I not made some noob mistakes that I know better than to do. But, like you, I like it anyway

Thanks for the comments.

 

[snowbear119 51]

Anytime.

This is mine:
http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/general-gallery/280777-dc-cherry-blossom-festival-c-c.html

 

[SCraig]

Anytime.

This is mine:
http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/general-gallery/280777-dc-cherry-blossom-festival-c-c.html

That's a very nice shot, I like it as well. I did make a minor edit to it in your post, hope you don't mind.

 

[snowbear119 51]

Got it - no problem - and thanks for the comments.

 

[Big Mike]

Sorry, but to me, it's just a missed shot. Like you said, she's walking down the stairs and probably looking at something below her. It has very little connection with the viewer. She's not looking at us, and she's not looking at anything that we can identify.
She is indeed a lovely lady and she may have a nice expression on her face...now just imagine how good of a photo it would be if she had been looking at the camera.

 

[SCraig]

Sorry, but to me, it's just a missed shot. Like you said, she's walking down the stairs and probably looking at something below her. It has very little connection with the viewer. She's not looking at us, and she's not looking at anything that we can identify.
She is indeed a lovely lady and she may have a nice expression on her face...now just imagine how good of a photo it would be if she had been looking at the camera.

Thanks, Mike. I appreciate your comments. I'm not sure I agree, but I certainly appreciate your insight and advice, and will keep it in mind next time.