Street Shot Sundays Story & Stats
Story:
This Sunday’s Street Shot of the Week was taken in Chefchaouen, Morocco. One of the many attractions to this small city in the Rif Mountains is how everything is painted blue. It’s not my first “Blue City,” but it is the bluest one I’ve been to yet. Everything is painted a vivid blue, including the ground and steps you walk on.
I had just stepped outside in the morning to get some breakfast and start a day of street photography. As I was walking up the steps, thinking more about Moroccan breakfast than photography, I immediately saw this scene unfolding above. The man had just left his home and the children ran out behind calling to him, but he didn’t seem in the mood for responding.
So before the scene disappeared, I walked up the steps a little quicker so I could include them all in the frame. I tried to time and frame the shot so his head would be in the middle of the flower pots before the older woman closed the door above. The children kept waiting for him to turn around and respond, but he just gave me a look and continued on down the stairs without a care.
Stats:
- Camera: Fujifilm Xpro1
- Lens: Fujinon XF 18mm
- Focal Length: 18mm (27mm full frame equivalent)
- Aperture: f/5.6
- Shutter Speed: 1/500
- ISO: 1600
I love this photo! what I find especially useful and interesting is the way you took it, thank you for that!
I would’ve probably seen the scene as well, but would’ve taken a few shots (in burst mode) as soon as I saw it and then left, so I wouldn’t get into trouble for taking the photo.
But to wait and then frame it like it is, with all the important elements there and the guy in the middle of the windows, that’s true talent!!!
What I learn from this is not to take my shots so quickly, and pay more attention to framing (hopefully being lucky enough that my subjects haven’t disappeared by then ;-)
Thanks for the comment and kind words, Kitty! For this series, I try to pick photos where I can give a little info on the shot and the place, so I’m glad you find it useful and interesting. I find focusing on one shot usually comes out better for me than quickly taking a bunch. If I have time to work on a scene, then I might take more. Sometimes, you do have to be both quick and a little lucky too, though :)
I think I take a lot of photos out of fear of missing the scene – but fear is always a bad advisor, as we say in Germany ;-)