6. Cafe Collage

Washington D.C. 5:30 pm, 6/13/08

Another natural in front of the camera. His posture and clothes are so relaxed, and his gaze is so direct. The woman in front of him is working on a computer, but the scene makes it look as though she's sketching his portrait. I didn't ask him to pose -- I just shot this photo as I exited the restaurant next door (the title of the photo is the name of the cafe he's sitting outside). But he looks like he was waiting for me to photograph him anyway, doesn't he?

Again, the composition is weak -- I think I need less space above the subject. The car behind him dominates the field, and it's so boring! But this man is really riveting, so he saves it in spite of my mistakes.

The farther I am from the subject, the harder it is for me to make all the pieces work together. I prefer to photograph small objects up close. It's a great way to notice details I wouldn't otherwise. But it's also a bit of a cop out -- that's not really how I see the world, which is a lot more complicated than a label on a bottle or an ornament on a car.