The moment you get noticed

I posted in a previous blog entry about my #streetphotography in Fuzhou on a rainy day.

That day, I was staying in one spot for more than two hours, watching the locals coming around a busy street corner.

At some point in my "photo session", I decided to make myself more visible to see what their reaction will be.

So I closed my black umbrella (I was wearing a bright blue raincoat with a hoody, so I was still relatively good with regards to the rain (except that I quite often had to clean the camera lens from the raindrops). I also stepped closer to the corner.

This way, I was sure that they cannot miss me. (And remember, as a foreigner with white (Uhm grey..) hair in China, I am already standing out like a sore thumb!)

My "game" was trying to anticipate the moment I get recognised and then pressing the shutter.

It took me a while to get my timing right, but once I was "tuned in", almost every shot was a keeper.

Most people gave me a quick glance, and then just drive on. After all, they were busy going around a corner...

At some point, a local approached me, asking me why I was taking the photos. After I explained to him my reason, he said that I photographed him as well but he do not want me to keep his photo. So, I played back the photos I took on the camera, and eventually, we found his photo and I deleted it.

This did break my concentration, but I decided that it is important to continue with what I was doing, to make sure I do not lose this important newly acquired street photography skill.

Not long after that, another man noticed me taking his photo, he slowed down and came to an abrupt stop. I was not really prepared for this, but then he gave me a big smile. I took another photo and lower the camera and gave him a big smile back. He lift his right hand, gave me a thumbs-up sign and then drove off.

This gesture totally made up for the unsettling encounter a few minutes ago!