The Headline Says it All
Wednesday, Nov 9, in the United States was either one of depression, excitement, confusion, or resolve. It is the beauty of the messy system called a representative republic. It is not perfect but it is the best form of governance devised to date. Shot at the Cafe Lucia in Smyrna, GA. A regular hangout for business people and students. https://cafeluciaatl.com Google streets https://goo.gl/maps/R8mvfyy79fvnXzw48
NOTE: The extra credit is triangular composition. Do you see it?
Selected as a 52 Pick Photo!
https://52frames.com/albums/2022/week-45-street-photography/photo/1069
An elderly woman sits in the chair across from me.
So many have commented on my street photograph focusing on the recent US elections. Those of us in countries with forms of representative government need to remember that this right in rare in the span of human history. This was emotionally illustrated while serving as poll worker two years go. I worked the check-in station where we confirmed the voter's eligibility. The tradition across the US is to shout, “First Time Voter,” when a young voter checks in for their first election. All the volunteers then give them a standing ovation. An elderly Chinese woman sits in the chair across from me. She is in her mid-eighties and just had become a US Citizen. She had her US Passport which I could scan. And she was a first-time voter not only in the US, but the first time in her entire life that could cast a vote. She received an extended ovation from everyone present and I was in tears.
Assignment
This week, let's take on Street Photography. The concept is straightforward - go out in public and capture something happening in real-time and candidly with human beings part of your shot. No need for accessories or any of the extra stuff one might use for a posed, studio shot. Street Photography is all about shooting humans as they traverse through life in public. It can be done anywhere not just in metro cities but even in a small village. The idea here is to move away from the posed, obviously artifical and repetitive styles and use the unpredictability and randomness of life to its fullest extent. This genre is more of a feeling - it's about shooting in the moment and often shooting from the hip (sometimes literally). Interesting photos can also be found in the mundane, in the everyday, in tranquility and in the details of life. You can try for a minimalistic look and feel or a slow shutter speed to emphasize motion blur. Use your intuition and composition skills to help tell a story of a thousand words. This challenge is also to help get you out of your shell and approach people out in public (just like in our Portrait Of A Stranger challenge) and take their photo. Do be certain to follow local laws and always stay safe with respect to your surroundings and traffic. While taking photos in public, without the subject's permission is legal in many parts of the world, do take extra care with sensitive subjects like kids or occasions where your taking photos may be considered inappropriate. Finally, just breathe and keep it real.
