This is Karin, My Love. We are probably on our way out, somewhere. I have forgot about where since this was nearly four years ago. Never mind, this picture isn’t about that.
The picture is captured with the small compact I was using those days. The focus seemed to have been on her hair, but the dof was sufficient to give also the reflection a good share of the focus. That’s the up-side with compacts, the impressive dof even at high apertures, such as in this case, f/2.8. The camera selected the focus point, but I would have rather had it on her eyes. Well well, that’s the reason I’m not using compacts as this any more.
I’m very found of the picture, due to her expression, which I think don’t needs much explanation. This is probably one of the most common expressions of a woman in front of a mirror, the serious consideration whether it will do or not. I think however I caught something more this time, a glimpse of a much deeper thought. A second later it was all disappeared, I’m certain about that.
Exif:
October 25, 2005
1/60 s
f/2.8
ISO 100
Konica KD 400Z at 8 mm (35 mm eqv: 39 mm)
Not to be over dramatic, but It’s like she’s looking deep within her own soul. I keep going back to her eyes trying to see what she sees–a fine capture of a special moment, and a beautiful lady.
Thanks, Earl! I didn’t want to over dramatise this either, but have to admit I wanted to write something like you expressed it. It sounded corny, though, so I stayed with ‘a deeper thought’.
I love photographs like this. Speculating what was on a person’s mind at that moment. Of course, I project myself into it. Like this case – it seemed to me she was asking herself, “how have I aged? Am I more beautiful today than I was 10 years ago?” Peace
So do I, Glen! I’m happy the few times I succeed to catch the decisive moment, like this one was. There’s a thousand thoughts that can be read from those eyes, and most of them are quite probably our own, our interpretation and our experiences that we project into those. I like it when it is that way, you really don’t know how to interpret your feelings.
A thoughtful image and the proof for the theory that the best camera is the one you use this very moment. For years I was too concentrated on image quality, fiddled with the camera and lost the moments. Had I used a smaller, simpler camera, I would have had more good images. Now I am more impartial and learn to see. Working with the camera on a technical level just follows.
What a wonderful portrait. I am especially fond of photos like this one where the subject is not looking directly into the camera. When the subject is thinking about something other than the camera and or photographer, we so often get a glimpse of the inner person. More importantly, we think we can see what is inside because of the simplicity and the truthfulness of the person who is lost in private thoughts. In other words, we believe that what is going on is private and not being served up for the camera.
What a lovely photo and I am struck by how much your love for her comes through in the picture as well as your comments here.
Yes, that holds for me too, Markus. Although I’d like cameras with manual controls, I’m usually have them set on auto everything, except the aperture. Then, if there is more time form more shots, I might reconsider trying out other exposures. I get far more good shots this way than when I had my Nikon F2 that were all manual and had a light meter with hick-up.
Anita, thanks for your warm and kind comment on this image and my thoughts around it. I can’t get enough of all these pictures when the thoughts obviously are far away. As a photographer, if you always could make people you photograph so acquainted with your presence and your camera that they don’t pay you any notice, as in this case, imagine what images could be captured…. I think the best portraits ever has been caught this way, like this one on Marilyn Monroe.
It’s a great challenge to get a subject’s attention off the camera and on something else. The camera is like a magnet for most people’s attention especially once they know it’s aimed at them. It would appear that Karin is “over it”—having been photographed so many times that is commonplace—and, at least some of the time, goes about her business undistracted.
She’s over it, although she isn’t a bit different than others (especially women), while noticing I’m pointing at her with a camera. For a while, anyway. Then she gets tired with me and continues on what she was doing, and there’s my chance..
Ha ha…