rockstar

and rockstar sunglasses too. While the smile and sunglasses look like they should be somewhere more exotic, this was shot in a back alley in Fredericksburg, Texas. We'd been out wine tasting for the day with some friends, enjoying the fact that things were finally cooling down in the move towards Autumn. Amanda has these great sunglasses and I was looking for something to work as a good background. The deep blue dumpster proved perfect for a couple of quick shots. The blue is harmonious to the purple in the glasses and the whole shot fits together as a result. It works well with the purple/ maroon sunglasses and also the blue sky reflecting in the glasses. She's getting a bit of shade under a tree that's mostly keeping the shadows under control, with just a bit of dappled sunlight on her face. I'd also just tried on the sunglasses, much to Amanda's amusement and she had taken a few pictures of me, falling around laughing, not suiting those shades at all. We'd gone from all that laughter, straight into shooting this, so the big smile on her face is really genuine and unforced. Last week I listened to a LightSource podcast with Jock McDonald that described fantastic portrait photography as a great conversation that happens to have a camera in between. Communication. Connection. That's the key, however you manage it. Even wearing the silly shades can do it. Whatever works.