Practicing my people skills

[Donald]

Thank you for all the comments.

Thank you in particular, Phil, for:-

Donald - have you got the 24-70 or 50 prime? If so and you want to try to get a bit more out of your comfort zone, then I think it would be beneficial to get closer.

Both shots being crops from 200mm very much gives a sense of 'picking them off' from range, rather than getting close and personal.

That's a bit of thinking that didn't and wouldn't have entered my head. I have both the 24-70 and a 'nifty fifty'. And I'm now getting known and accepted at these events. So, indeed, I don't think I'd have a problem.

[dubaiphil]

What I've tried to get into the mindset of is to capture being in the scene rather than just capture the scene itself. I'm not saying there's no place for shooting at that focal length as it can help with compression and blurring out distracting background elements, but I find that my more engaging people shots are a lot more up close, as if you're the extra person in a conversation but just behind the lens.

[bnnrcn]

I like #2 very much

[Shadowman]

What I've tried to get into the mindset of is to capture being in the scene rather than just capture the scene itself. I'm not saying there's no place for shooting at that focal length as it can help with compression and blurring out distracting background elements, but I find that my more engaging people shots are a lot more up close, as if you're the extra person in a conversation but just behind the lens.

I like to get a combination of shots of the same subject if possible, a few full body shots and some closeups.

[TonyW]

To me, you have for while been well known for your people photography. These, like your earlier ones, are quite exquisite and I don't see the need to change anything.

[CNelson]

Nice shots...#2 draws me in.

[mugge]

I like the first one, the light tones are very effective. The second one is more dramatic though. It seems that when darker tones are introduced people tend to 'sit up' do not know why but that is just an observation
Ole

[FootLoose]

I like the 2nd shot, Donald. The way those two are poised in conversation and the 'film noir' treatment makes them look as though they could well be 'armed to the teeth'. They would not be out of place in the back streets of London (judging from what I have seen of British cop shows)