Right under your nose

Some times the best photographic opportunities are right under your nose. Case in point, I was out with a group of photographers and we were all feeling a bit underwhelmed by the street corner in Austin we were standing on. Then I noticed the black and white patterned stone pavement we were standing on. This was the first time we'd all got together to shoot, so it was time for a group shot. Getting to a different angle is a great way to shoot groups and this black and white background was the perfect backdrop.

I quickly nipped into the parking garage above us and got to a good vantage point. Luckily I managed to avoid the security and only did a little bit of trespassing. A wee bit of directing and shuffling around got the group together and that's the shot above. Suddenly it went from what would have been a line of heads shot at the same level, to something a bit more dynamic with a much simplified background - just by noticing what was right under our noses. Because everyone is looking up, there is more light in their faces and all the attention is right there too. We were shaded by the building across the street which helped keep the lighting simple.