As I prepare this post Tuesday evening, I do not know which side of the force will prevail. Now I lay me down to sleep...
A benefit of public events like the Halloween party is a request for a picture is rarely declined. A bad thing is that is that it can very hard to talk to the subjects and learn something about them. Deafening music is blaring from the stage. People are walking through your shots and friends of the subjects don’t notice the photographer. Still, these young women wanted to be on display but I never got to find out why.
I may have to do music instead of an image tomorrow, either the Hallelujah Chorus or somebody’s Dies Irae. Or I - and all of us - may have to hold our breath.
I know we’re past Halloween, but tomorrow in the United States is our major trick or treat day. If I were still under my youthful influences, I’d be lighting candles. As it is, I’ll go a little more into recent inventory. This was a bit of the crowd in front of the runway for the Central West End Halloween party costume contest. Lucky combination of stage lights and fill flash (photographer geek stuff).
The Central West End Halloween party has a costume contest with cash prizes. People do their thing strutting down a runway while judges assess scores. There is a perimeter fence around the stage so the audience doesn’t get underfoot. I of course, get as close as I can.
This delightful couple took turns using a single lawn chair near the fence. I guess they saw me in my gimpy back mode trying to get close and told me to go on up to the rail. I told them that they were there first and I didn’t want to block their view. They told me to just go ahead. I asked if I could take their picture and they gave me this charming pose. The woman asked me how much I charged for photos and I said nothing, that I’m delighted to share. I gave them my card and asked them to email me. I never heard from them.
Hard to be sure, but I think this chap was supposed to be Moctezuma, the last independent king of the Aztecs, or something with that flavor. It’s not obvious from this angle, but his cape is the Mexican flag, which might be seen as disrespectful.
There is a Dia de los Muertos street party in another part of town tomorrow and I may check it out.
While working the crowd at the Central West End Halloween party, I came across a colorfully dressed family speaking Spanish to one another. I’m not up on popular culture so maybe a reader can identify the theme. My Spanish isn’t very good so I asked permission for a snap in English. ¡Ciertamente! They were out there to be seen.
Lots of us shooters are uncomfortable photographing people in the street. I’ve been taught how to go about it by the best teacher I've ever had for anything ever, Bobbi Lane, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=100063709410534 . It’s still awkward for those of us who only do so occasionally but there are times when it’s easy. Public events where people want to be seen are the best. Just an “Excuse me, ladies, may I?” never gets a turn down at something like STL’s Halloween party.
