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A Pretty Lady |
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A Pretty Lady:The picture below was taken in a Chinese restaurant in Leeds. I used a Canon G3, this camera has a wonderful flip out and swivel LCD. Using this with the camera resting on the table enables the user to take photographs without drawing the subject’s attention. This picture was cropped, and then the lasso tool was used to outline the background and a fair degree of ‘Gaussian Blur ‘applied. The trouble is sometimes with these tiny sensor cameras the depth of field, even wide open is enormous. However this depth of field can be a great advantage on other occasions.
 Girl in a Chinese restaurant
The secret with this sort of photography is to be really casual and completely confident re using the camera. I always walk into a bar or restaurant and quickly glance around for a suitable subject and the available light. For instance don’t choose a seat with the subject between you and a brightly lit window, instead sit at an angle to make the most of the window light. Then casually place the camera on the table with the camera pointing at the subject but at an angle to where you are sitting. . Adopting this method means that you can be sitting almost facing away from the subject, but with the monitor swivelled the subject can be viewed whilst they are completely unaware that they are being captured for posterity. But ensure that the flash is switched off and the dull focussing light, you don’t want to draw attention. But, and this is a big but, after I have taken a couple of shots I normally reach across and show them their image on the screen. If this is done with the right sort of attitude, even turning it into a joke can help; the unaware sitter’s response is usually favourable.
 A Pretty Lady
And sometimes these casual snaps can produce some very pleasant images as I think the above shot shows. The small digital camera is ideal for this, they look like toys and are not threatening. Try doing this sort of photography with a Nikon D2x and a thundering great 35mm-200mm or whatever zoom. Even I would get upset if somebody thrust one of those in my face.
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