At the Festival of Nations...for C&C please...

[IzzieK]

We decided to go to the Festival of Nations yesterday. It turned out to be a beautiful day despite the wet weather prediction. People….lots of them! I made up my mind to enjoy myself photographing the happenings but I wasn't really up to it…

1. This gave a bit of a smile – the sign on one of the tables. I have no idea what country this table represent but this one looks good to me…I decided to take the shot when the lady at the right side put her hands on her face when I told Bill..."Really???!!!" She laughed...


2. Somehow I lost Bill somewhere between the beer tents and the rows of toilet facilities…but I found this one looking at me…she is a cutie…shot her picture and Bill showed up asking me where I've been…thanked her dad for allowing me to take her picture before asking permission...



3. Well I have been near the Grand stage and was disappointed that we missed The School of Chinese of St. Louis' performance. It would have been nice to see them do their dance numbers. I got this one and converted it to Silver Efex because of the busy-ness of the background. I took note of John's (2) explanation as one of the reason to convert to Black and White and I was fascinated with this colour conversion. I do not know if it works here, so what do you all think?



4. Bill lost me because I wandered off to the screened Performers' Area only because I was sort of disappointed on my shooting location by the stage, I was trying not to include other people in my shot that might distract from my subject and I went to this lady who is one of the instructor/dancers and her beautiful dress caught my attention. I asked if I can take her photo and she posed for me…



5. Last but not the least, this lady with the singing bowl -- I need a correction or comments on how to improve this one if it needs improvement. It is the best I can do for a shot under the crowded circumstances with people shoving one another bumper to bumper and taking care not to trip over with my camera... I think this lady is kind and gracious and pretty obliging not to mind me asking her to pose for me...I hope more people are like her...her kindness shows in her face...I am afraid I did not do justice with my shot here...



For C& C…thanks in advance for all the comments and please critique me harshly so I will learn…

[Shadowman]

Nice series, you did well despite losing Bill so many times.

You did well on all, especially the last. Her eyes are a bit dark but the warmth in her expression shines through, by dark I mean that the iris and upper lid have hardly any separation, both are so similar in tone that I don't think there's much that can be done in post production.

[Donald]

I think the background in the last one is a bit busy. Given what you say about the shooting conditions, it's likely there's not a lot you could have done about it, other than if you had a very fast lens and threw it wide open so that you really blurred the background.

The first one is a nice snapshot.

The other three (2, 3 & 4) are really good images.Wonderful colour in the one of the little girl. The B & W conversion works well. And that's a good full length portrait of the lady in costume.

Oh and by the way, husbands, wives, partners are just a nuisance on a shoot.

[chauncey]

Oh and by the way, husbands, wives, partners are just a nuisance on a shoot.

Oh no Donald...ya gotta have someone to carry your gear around.

[Wavelength]

I liked this set very much, especially #2, #4 and #5; is that last lady have an Indian origin?

[Mike Buckley]

Enjoyable series!

Oh and by the way, husbands, wives, partners are just a nuisance on a shoot.

Not if you hire them for free as photo assistants.

[bnnrcn]

Very nice series Isabel

[IzzieK]

Nice series, you did well despite losing Bill so many times.

You did well on all, especially the last. Her eyes are a bit dark but the warmth in her expression shines through, by dark I mean that the iris and upper lid have hardly any separation, both are so similar in tone that I don't think there's much that can be done in post production.

Ah...yes... but my mule has my backpack and so I was lost when I want to change to another lens...I could had stuck my backpack in my back but he is too much of a gentleman to let me do it...kept quiet to keep the peace.

I noticed the lady's eyes only after I uploaded it and she was the last one on my list so I left it as that...I am glad you like my shots...btw, I started looking at Community events lately in the local papers because of you...thanks. And thank you for your comments and feedback. 'Appreciate it very much...

[IzzieK]

I think the background in the last one is a bit busy. Given what you say about the shooting conditions, it's likely there's not a lot you could have done about it, other than if you had a very fast lens and threw it wide open so that you really blurred the background.

The first one is a nice snapshot.

The other three (2, 3 & 4) are really good images.Wonderful colour in the one of the little girl. The B & W conversion works well. And that's a good full length portrait of the lady in costume.

Oh and by the way, husbands, wives, partners are just a nuisance on a shoot.

Thanks for your feedback, Donald...and yes, the little girl was my favourite too even if it was quick shot. Had to cropped off a pair of legs and the back of another person sitting near them to concentrate on this girl's face who sat almost motionless waiting for me to take her picture. I only took one shot of her as most in this series apart from the dance sequence which I need to repeat in succession while adjusting my exposure triangle. 'Appreciate your comments.

[IzzieK]

Oh no Donald...ya gotta have someone to carry your gear around.

Thanks William and Nandakumar for your comments...

Yes William -- my mule kept too far away from me at times and I do not have to motion him to come so I can change my lens. I had to make do with my 70-300mm most of the time because I kept losing him in the crowd.

Nandakumar, I think she has Indian blood somewhere along there...and she is most beautiful in person than I can show here in my image of her...very calm personality and always smiling despite the heat and the dust and of course the crowd trying to catch her attention...

Also, thanks to Mike...

Thank you all for your comments and feedback...I am glad you like my series here...

[IzzieK]

Thank you Binnur...'appreciate your comment...

By the way, the first shot is supposed to be in the unusual sign post area...It was too late to get it back after my narrative was composed...

[John 2]

I think the background in the last one is a bit busy. Given what you say about the shooting conditions, it's likely there's not a lot you could have done about it, other than if you had a very fast lens and threw it wide open so that you really blurred the background.

The first one is a nice snapshot.

The other three (2, 3 & 4) are really good images.Wonderful colour in the one of the little girl. The B & W conversion works well. And that's a good full length portrait of the lady in costume. ......................

+1 from me Izzie with no.2 being my favourite. My only other thought would be to leave a bit more room on the left of 4 and move the crop of 3 to leave a bit more room on the right - if you can.

[Kris V]

I really like 1 and 3.

[KimC]

Nice series Izzie. #2 is adorable!

[Brownbear]

Lovely set, Izzie. I especially adore #2, mesmerizing!

[Ziggy]

Hi Izzie. Looks like a good time and you captured some nice shots.

[NorthernFocus]

I can't offer much by way of C/C on people images. I can imagine the challenges of shooting a crowded festival location. What I do like is that you selected isolated scenes to capture and share. When I visit places it's all the little details that seem to stick in my mind.

[dje]

I seem to have missed these Izzie. All good, nice work. I particularly like 2 and 3.

Dave

[IzzieK]

+1 from me Izzie with no.2 being my favourite. My only other thought would be to leave a bit more room on the left of 4 and move the crop of 3 to leave a bit more room on the right - if you can.

John...On #4 I cannot get any more room I wished I had because of some of the other performers milling too close to this woman in the shot...on the right side, I have to get rid of another guy and the tent the others have gone in. I have really no room to crop and this is a full shot. That was it...I have to compose it that way. I could have but I worry too much to get rid of...

As for #3 the pp of which I got from your boat shot, because of where I was position at the side of the stage where there is a metal stair for entrance and exiting of the performers, I have to crop that right side to concentrate on just one dancer instead of all 6 of them. I just couldn't do it...I did have one shot of her again where her feet frozen when she jumped but I prefer this one better..

Thank you for your comments and feedback...I appreciate it very much as usual.

[IzzieK]

Thanks to you too Kris, Kim, Cristina and Ziggy for your comments and feedback...do love you all passing by...

Dan...that was exactly on my mind the moment I saw how crowded the place was as I need to win somehow even just a bit due to the weather condition which was fortunate enough not to happen despite the wet prediction but the place is just full of dust on the walkways, also a little bit muggy because I think the organizers have the grassy part watered before the event started or something like that...I decided on people, street photography too but I was too embarrassed to do it...and thought I wasn't good enough. I saw one from the store of that last lady but Bill found me and urged me to move on because he was hungry...and hot. He needs a beer... that was what it was really...I think he knows what I am thinking and knew it might cost him...

Thanks Dave...you didn't missed much...

Thank you all for passing by and commenting and giving me your feedbacks. It is surely appreciated to be appreciated for my shots...

Next in line -- cows and pigs. Watch my next episode, folks...!!!