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A Dream Comes True

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Things are coming together again after a long hiatus from making photographs.  Covid cases are on the decline in the U.S., I’m going to Paris next month, and I have a new camera!


Yes, my dream did come true after lots of thought and reflection.  This month I traded my old Leica Q for the Q2 Monochrom.  I haven’t had much time to get to know this new camera, but first impressions are that it is living up to all the hype.  So far, the dynamic range is the big stand out - simply amazing.  It’s hard to believe black and white images look this good in-camera.  I’m pumped about the prospect of spending even less time with post processing.

I have only a few weeks to explore the other nuances of this camera before I’m in Paris for 10-days with a friend where photography is #1 on our To-Do List.

More to come.

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Checking In

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It’s been so long since I last posted anything, I sort of forgot how to do it.  Let’s just say I was all thumbs trying to publish this update. Sadly, I haven’t picked up my camera either for more than 19 months. I'm hoping when I start to make photos again everything will fall into place as it relates to matters of timing, and technique.  There’s also the implied assumption that I’ll feel comfortable standing close to people again.


This post is my way of saying thanks for checking in, and that I'm still around and still COVID-free.  Like so many, I was hopeful we had turned a corner on the pandemic earlier this summer both in the US and Europe.  I even booked a trip to France for September that is no longer happening because of the rise in COVID cases both here and there.  This is the second time I've had to cancel a trip to France since the pandemic surfaced, and it isn’t getting any easier.  


Yes, I'm vaccinated, but given the higher risks of mingling among all the others who aren’t, I’m not interested in writing about what it feels like to have a breakout case or how my life has changed as a long hauler.  So for now, my travel plans are back on hold.


The cover photo was taken while I was testing out a Leica Q a few years ago.  As I mentioned in my last post, a few months later, I sold all of my camera equipment, and bought a new Q.


I’m still thinking about upgrading to the Q2M, it’s just that I've had a few distractions in my life since my last post.  Now that things have settled down, and travel is back on hold, I have some more time to tease out my buying impulse.

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Dreaming About a New Camera

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I’m not a photographer who collects gear. Years ago, I sold all of my 2 cameras - a Fuji X-T100, and a Canon 6D. I also managed to accumulate several L series lenses for my Canon. The Canon sat in a closet along with the accessories, and only the Fuji saw the light of day.

After a workshop in New York City, the Leica Q popped on my radar. I spent a considerable amount of time researching this camera, but despite all the specs, something was missing. I needed to hold it, and I needed to shoot with it. That emotion eventually paved the way for a rental period that spanned a long holiday weekend.

To this day, I remember the separation anxiety I was feeling as I boxed the camera to overnighted it back to the camera dealer. I didn’t want to give it up, and what gave me solace was the premonition I would someday own this camera, but only when I sold all my other camera gear. I priced all my equipment to sell because I didn’t want to prolong the sell-off period. I can honestly say if felt great to unload it all. When the proceeds of my equipment sales were within $500 of the price of a new Q, I pulled the trigger.

Many years later, I find myself in a similar boat. This time the culprit is the Leica Q2 Monochrom, yet there are plenty of differences between then and now. First and foremost, I already have a Leica Q, and secondly I have no place to go while Covid-19 cases surge in the United States and Europe. Until I’m vaccinated, I’ll be lying low. I don’t expect to be out in public shooting close-up images of humanity until next summer or next fall. It also means I won’t be rushing into this next purchase for many months which is good for my head, but even better for my pocket.

Once I’m vaccinated, I plan to make up for lost time whether that includes the Leica Q2 Monochrom or not, but like before, I now have a premonition.

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At a Standstill

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I’ve been in self quarantine since March 14th. In this era of Covid-19, I have no new work to share, and blogs that slip into states of inaction begin to decay with stale content. It’s been several months since my last post, and I’m feeling the need to publish something that acknowledges my absence, but at the same time says I haven’t abandoned this blogging effort.

So here’s the catch-22. Until there’s a vaccine to protect us from a lethal virus that’s so easily transmitted, how do I safely get in range of my subjects with a fixed 28mm lens and still capture details that make for an interesting image? Yes, it's a first world problem that takes a back seat to the current global crisis, and a lot will have to change before I need to act on my dilemma.

Meanwhile, my travel plans are on hold for the short term, and probably the long term as well. I was supposed to go to Montreal this month, but that has been canceled, and I still have a few rays of hope for a trip I booked to France this fall.

I’m thinking about some ideas for future posts. Stay tuned, and stay safe.

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Nicollet Mall

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When there’s nothing happening on the streets of Minneapolis, I often resort to Nicollet Mall. I can usually find an interesting subject or some interesting light. Today, I pushed my shutter just ten times because the activity level was so low, and I was under-dressed for the weather. I think I spent more time sipping a Guinness inside a local Irish pub than I did walking on the streets.

I like the image above only for the pop of color that punches through the drab scene. The gloves, the scarf and the hat confirm that winter has arrived.

The image above misses the mark, but perhaps you can make sense of what I was thinking about when I took the shot. As I saw these women heading towards me, I was hopeful they would synchronize their stride to mirror the metal bars off to the left - maybe next time.

This guy is ready for winter, and there’s something Viking-esque about his build, his plaid shirt, the hat, and all of that hair.

And finally, I like how the elements of this image started to fall into place as an authority figure shouted to this group of students who were almost a city block in front of their party. There is a clearly defined foreground, middle ground and background of students positioned about the sidewalk. My only regret is that they they weren’t all in focus.

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Cold Snap

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What a difference a week makes. All I could think about today was staying warm when I met up with a friend to shoot some pictures in downtown Minneapolis. No wonder no one was out and about. It’s too cold for this time of year as the images below suggest.

As the city bus rolled to a stop in the image below, a woman, who looked like she was competing in a track and field long jump event, exited the bus. I actually got a shot, but I was too far away, and a street lamp pole was also blocking the subject. I was within range when the last passenger exited the bus. If it wasn't for the guy who is looking back at the woman, I would have deleted this shot.

It’s time to toughen up to the cold because another long winter has already begun. May it pass quickly.

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Seasonal Change

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It took me a few weeks to get excited about shooting in my city again after coming back from Europe earlier this month. This feeling is familiar to me, and I deal with it every time I get a chance to shoot in a new location.

We’re well into fall in terms of the leaves changing color, and many of them are on the ground swirling in the cold winds that will only get colder in the coming days. Here’s one stretch of my walk where the trees seemed to be holding on to their leaves.

While I was walking in downtown Minneapolis today, I enjoyed every moment of the bright sunshine and the days which are now numbered where I can operate without gloves. It’s likely we won’t have another day like this for the next six months. Here are a few more images I captured on my walk.

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Une Journée à Paris

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After I finished the Portuguese Camino, I flew to Paris for an afternoon of shooting, and a chance to be in my favorite city in the world.  And while I was alone this time, and free to set my own agenda, the only things that got in my way were the raindrops.  I was able to cover a lot of ground in a short period of time, but I was also forced to step out of the rain a few times. Darkness set-in early with the overcast skies, and I pushed into the early evening hours before I put my camera away for the night.  Here’s a sample of what I saw.

When I’m in Paris, I like to capture various expressions of love and affection. Often, my favorite shots exclude faces because there’s already enough detail in the frame for the viewer to process the image.

And here are a few other images to share.

I got up early the next morning with the intention of skipping breakfast, and making enough time to grab a coffee at the nearby café before hitting the streets. Unfortunately, the final hours were counting down before my 9-hour flight back to Minneapolis. I only had a few hours to shoot, but the pouring rain instantly changed my plans, and there would be no photos.

I still ran to the nearby café, but without my camera and without the need to rush that cup of coffee.  I was the only customer, so I stood at the counter and spoke to the barista in French, while he answered in English. Eventually my cup was dry, and before I knew it, I was on my way home, contemplating my next visit. 

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Camino Portugués

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I’ve heard a lot about Porto including the Porto Photo Fest which I missed by just a few weeks when I was here this month. I was in town for something completely different, but I still brought my camera to capture a few street images before the start of my hike on the Portuguese Camino to Santiago de Compostela, Spain.  Porto has plenty of old buildings, beautiful alleyways, cobblestone streets, and a commanding bridge that draws attention no matter what side of the river Douro you happen to be standing.

The next sequence of images was made from on top of the Ponte de Dom Luis I pictured in the photo above. Looking at the image below, could that be a fellow street photographer with a Fuji?

My camera has been idle for too many months due to other life distractions, and while it felt good to start shooting again, I could tell I had fallen out of practice.  I did manage to catch a few shots, and while there were many areas where I wanted to park in good light, and wait for the right subject to walk in front of an inspiring background, the circumstances didn’t allow for that since my wife was walking in step with me.  I was shooting on the fly and covering as much ground as possible while working through the remnants of jet lag.  

Here are a few more images captured during my 9-mile stroll that included lots of hills on this day.

I hope to return here some day to attend the Porto Photo Fest, and also have enough time to at least fill an SD card.

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Mon Habit de France

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There isn’t a day that goes by when I’m not thinking about France. I’m actively planning a strategy to spend more time here in my future. After a few days in Copenhagen, my wife and I headed to southern France for several days and finished up in Paris. The cover photo was taken in Montpellier, just steps from our apartment.

I noticed some themes in my photos as I often do when I’m photographing every day. I took several images of couples sitting at cafes, and in both of these shots below, the guys have expressions on their faces suggesting their thoughts are somewhere other than the table at which they are sitting.

I also captured some situations where someone was under observation, but may not have know it. The first image below is my favorite in the sequence.

I like to make pictures of people riding bikes, scooters and other modes of transportation, particularly when the subjects are stylishly dressed. I particularly like the first shot below given the expression, the fashion and the shoes.

Here’s an assortment of other favorites captured on this trip, and taken in the order of the cities listed: Aix-en-Provence, Paris, Paris, Aix-en-Provence, Carcassonne, Montpellier, Montpellier, Carcassonne.

I’m already counting the days to my next visit this fall.

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Three Days in Copenhagen

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The Danes are supposed to be some of the happiest people in the world, and since I’m sort of the curious type, I thought it would be fun to see what makes them so happy. I must confess this all started when my wife gave me The Little Book of Lykke, by Meik Wiking. This book has lots of take-aways that can enrich your life. So with some new ideas to live by, off we went to Copenhagen for a taste of the Danish good-life. Of course I had my camera with me, and the book turned into a convenient excuse to practice my hobby in a new location.

Bicycles rule in this city, and probably the rest of the country. It’s also part of the secret sauce that makes the Dane’s so happy. They also like to walk when they’re not riding mass transit. Sometimes they even run as we see in the image below.

I was surprised at the fashion statements we regularly saw as we walked around Copenhagen. It ranged from haute couture to a French fry motif sweat suit.

And on the subject of fashion, this mime captured the attention of pedestrians as they passed by. It just so happens I saw the same guy kicking-off happy hour after he stepped outside of his cubicle later that day.

At times, the fashion and the public displays of affection in Copenhagen reminded me of Paris.

Sometime you stumble upon a setting where the lighting is great, and the leading lines are compelling, but you need the right human element to make the picture. Such was the case as I waited in this famous round tower in Copenhagen, but that subject never showed up for the party.

The next best opportunity was this kid who was making lots of noise from above as he descended the spiral ramp. All of a sudden he spotted me and stopped in his tracks while trying to make sense of the photographer who was blocking his path. He paused for a second, and then unleashed another burst of energy, and made more noise as he continued his spiral descent. I took two steps away from the wall so he could pass by and pivoted to take a second shot. If only I had slowed my shutter speed to blur his movement! In any event, this ended up being my favorite shot inside the tower.

We had just entered the train station for a short ride back to our apartment when we stumbled upon this woman posing on the floor. It must be a cultural thing I don’t understand, but I often see these types of shameless poses among a certain group of tourists traveling the world. Maybe they feel the same way about the kind of pictures I like to take?

If so…touché.

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Kind of a Yawner

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It actually felt like Spring today in Minnesota. Even though its well into the month, a freak snow storm is never out of the question at this latitude. It was a day of blue skies and bright sunshine as this guy’s expression summed up my photo walk. Nevertheless, it felt good to be out, and practicing.

I closed in on this group of guys whose opinions and points of view were as different as their age and race. The older gent had sharp words for the message these youngsters were trying to articulate.

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Don’t Hold Back

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It’s always interesting to notice how some people respond to the first warm days of spring as temperatures begin to climb in Minnesota. Today it reached 50 degrees, and I met up with a friend for a photo walk in Minneapolis to capture the sites and sounds of this seasonal transition. The guy below was dressed for the weather like most of the people we saw except he was also enjoying a smoke on his afternoon stroll.

And unlike the guy pictured above, the woman below was feeling the heat, and decided to peel off a layer as we see the sun highlighting her shoulder and her hair.

We heard our fair share of music blasting from cars with the windows down. While the guy below didn’t have music blaring from his minibike, the engine sounded like a runaway chain saw on Nicollet Mall. In the name of speed, the rider appears to have found the optimal posture to aerodynamically cut through the wind as the dog looks on.

These guys in the image below had some energy to burn as they put up their dooks, and turned the sidewalk into a boxing ring while pedestrians on both sides of the street took notice.

And on a lighter note, I couldn’t resist this scene of the dog resting his head on the table as his owner waited for her lunch to arrive.

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After the Polar Vortex

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It’s weather like we had this last week that re-affirms my plan to move away from this climate when I retire. Just four days ago, the temperatures were hovering near -30 degrees. Today, it was almost 40 degrees. Neither of these temperature extremes is normal, but any time the temperature is cold enough to support snow, I’m thinking relocation. At least it was warm enough today to meet up with a friend for a photo walk around Minneapolis.

One of the buildings downtown had a large accumulation of ice that formed a huge icicle from what was probably a water supply pipe that burst during the polar vortex. This giant icicle formed several stories above street level. The sidewalk was closed on the other side of the street as a crew worked to free the ice from the building. Naturally, this attracted lots of attention and a chance to photograph people looking up in amazement.

In my last post, I mentioned how I wanted to pay more attention to perspective in my photographs. As I worked the scene, this angle offered more visual interest given the elements that make up the background. I particularly like the abandoned flag poles aiming skyward as they play off the angles at which the pedestrians have cocked their heads.

I first noticed this guy looking up, and he couldn’t take his eye off of the worker removing chunks of ice with a wand spewing steam at high velocity. I like his posture, and how his hands are placed in his pockets, and his mouth open in a state of wonder. It’s interesting to notice how other passers-by follow suit, and before you know it, everyone is looking up.

I came back for a close up before moving on. There was also plenty of ice on the sidewalk in another part of the city as this woman in the photo below pointed out. I like the elements of perspective including the railing, the poles supporting the electrical lines, as well as the snow on both sides of the sidewalk, and the texture of the stone that wraps the outer wall of this building.

And finally, a winter embrace under the canopy. What first caught my eye was the architectural features of this structure as well as the different lines of perspective. The human element was the trigger that made me take the shot.

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A New Perspective

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It was a January dream come true. Sunny skies gave way to 40 degree temperatures, and the only snow on the ground was the stuff pushed into piles in parking lots. For those of us already wishing winter goodbye, it doesn’t get much better than this in Minnesota. I knew I’d see people out running and walking with their dogs like we see in the image below.

I got off to a slow start today as I experienced the usual episodes of clumsiness symptomatic of a student who doesn’t practice regularly. The best way to sum up my shoot is to say I had a nice walk. I never noticed anything worth chasing, no special places where the light was exceptional, and no compelling moments where I felt like I was in the right place at the right time.

After I got home, I deleted all but four photographs, and I could have easily done away with them all. I resisted that impulse because each of the four images in this post had elements of perspective that held my attention just a few extra seconds.

Railings, roof lines and shadows flirt with the subjects in all of these images, and suddenly I realized the images were more appealing to me. I wish I could say I deliberately took these photographs with perspective in mind, but this is just a small collection of accidents. Going forward, my goal is to actively work perspective into images to raise compositional interest.

The image below reveals three layers of activity. Three adult males dominate the composition, but I find the child’s expression most interesting. Finally, there is a woman on the left who is focused on the first of four steps before she is ready to look up. The overhang of the building and the railing produce elements of perspective that draw the eye through the image. I also like the detail of the lamps underneath the overhang that provides a steady rhythm in this setting.

I was more interested in this guy’s backpack than anything else. The leather pack looks fresh out of the box, in fact it appears the photographer forgot to remove the dangling tag. In any event, the fence adds another linear perspective to this image, and the other couple offers balance to a shot that is otherwise plain.

I left this last photograph in color to highlight the backlight that makes this guy’s ears look orange. There’s no post production hanky-panky here. His skewed hat against a lighter background is icing on the cake. Once again, I only noticed later how shafts of light separated shadows on the sidewalk. I also find it curious how everyone seems to be walking in each other’s shadow which enhances the element of perspective.

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Getting Out

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It feels like winter arrived more than a month ago, yet the season hasn’t officially started. For me, this is the most challenging time of the year to shoot photographs on the street. These days, when I see people out walking, they’re bundled in layers, often cold, and usually in a rush. The bursts of northerly winds bring back a word usage that’s been dormant in our conversation for almost seven months - wind chill. There are other signs of impending change as good light gives way to grey and overcast skies. It’s hard to get out when things are this way.

I picked up my camera for the first time since early October to shoot pictures at the Christmas Market in Saint Paul this weekend. The picture above was my first of the day, and I caught this guy trying to contain a yawn that slipped into a smile when he noticed my camera.

The colors in the picture below shout of winter, and I like how the subject’s face is surrounded in symmetrical colors and textures. The slightly red base of her nose is like a temperature gauge that confirms the chill today.

In the next shot below, I like how the fur lining on the woman’s hood almost looks like a funky hairdo. How about that guy’s laser-eyes staring down my camera lens? Even through the blur, his look is intense behind those powder-blue frames.

And finally, the woman below seemed slightly confused in this moment as her face radiates tension.

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Encouraging Words

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The weather was just about perfect for a marathon - mostly overcast skies, calm winds and temperatures in the upper forties. Something else about this day seemed nearly perfect.

There was a flood of emotional support directed towards family, friends, and total strangers running the Twin Cities marathon. It was refreshing to see this genuine compassion directed at all the runners on the course, particularly when compassion seems notably absent in this era of Trump.

In the photo above, I watched the woman in the grey jacket step into the street and shower this runner with praise and support. She was so emphatic, and I thought for sure it was her friend or some acquaintance, but the runner only acknowledged the support and passed by without saying a word.

Minutes later, I heard a big commotion down the street and witnessed another genuine expression of support. These two guys in the photos below knew each other, and while I didn’t have any details, it seemed like an unplanned reunion

The finger wag below appears to be a coaching moment and whatever the coach was saying, it seemed to propel the runner as she approached the 22-mile mark.

I positioned myself at a point on the course where the runners had to make a sharp turn to their left. I stood a few steps behind someone standing on the corner who acted as a human shield so I could get candid shots of faces rounding the corner. Here’s a sequence that conveys the true grit needed to run a marathon.

All age groups were well represented by the field of runners, and I was particularly interested in the older guy’s footwear in the photo below.

And finally, a panning shot using a slow shutter speed.

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Moments à Paris

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I knew I’d be coming back to Paris, but I never expected to return so soon. It was a spur of the moment idea that gained traction when I found an airfare too cheap to ignore.

The picture above is one of my favorites from this trip. As I noticed the elements of this image coming together, I made every effort to get as close as I could in the spare seconds I had before I took this shot. I actually have a sequence of three shots. The first two images I have show her puckering up before she notices me. As I got a few feet closer, she rolled her eyes and that’s the shot I wanted. While the background is busy, I think the subject is strong enough to overcome the distraction.

The moped windshield and the retracting shield on both of their helmets seem to be bouncing the sunlight in a favorable direction since much of her face and her front neckline are illuminated. One of the mirrors on the moped might also be reflecting some light. I like everything about her posture including her symmetrically positioned hands resting on the seat of the moped.

Paris is such an easy place to capture moments of affection, and like fashion, it isn’t limited to certain age groups. I’m always looking to capture these public displays of affection because unlike anywhere else, it just seems to belong here. In the picture above, I love the dappled light on the subjects and how the folds in their shirts are so well defined by light and shadow.

This time I started noticing hair color. Normally when I see bold hair colors, the clothing seems to reinforce the hair color statement, but not this time. Actually, the last picture is the exception to what I saw.

I got an early start on a sunny morning to capture long shadows, silhouettes and soft light. I made my way over to the Canal Saint-Martin and noticed this woman who just lit her cigarette. It was the sunlight bouncing off the sidewalk and her shirt, and lighting the underside of her chin that caught my attention. Part of her face is also rim lit by the sun.

As I started my morning walk, I noticed several interesting subjects pass by me. In a way I was sleep walking since I failed to capture them in the moment. I stopped in my tracks, surveyed the scene below and waited until an interesting subject passed through my frame. The woman in the hat below showed up first and waited to catch a bus. Then the guy on the bike made his way down the hill. I like the long shadow projected on the cobblestone street, and the white gloves he happens to be wearing.

A minute later, the Vespa came around the corner. In addition to the long shadow, I like how the man’s attention has been re-directed from the cobblestone road.

It’s always interesting to notice the non-verbal communication among adults when things aren’t going well. I see this all the time and I decided to start capturing it. The first image below was actually taken in Palavas-les-Flots on the Mediterranean coast when we were visiting Montpellier. I saw this couple talking to each other when I was further away, and as I got closer, they seemed to reach an impasse, and the body language says it all. Since there were two French flags flying, in front of a clear sky, I had to leave this in color.

Here’s another out of sync moment, and the guy clearly doesn’t like what he’s hearing.

Picnics don’t always take place in the park. I stumbled upon this scene in the Latin Quarter. Who needs a patch of grass to sit on when you can stand on a cobblestone street and have a stare down contest with the family dog.

In the pictures below, a woman makes it a picnic to-go. Then, a park bench gets turned into a picnic table. And the last image reminded me of a scene we’ve seen painted before by Seurat and Renoir that takes place on the bank of a lake or river, except here the subjects are more casually dressed and there’s a high-tech stroller in the frame..

The parks are also a fabulous location to capture all kinds of behaviors and expressions.

Here are a few more shots from an afternoon stroll through Luxembourg Gardens.

They call it Pétanque, and the next trip to Paris will include a picnic on a bench at courtside to take in the atmosphere of this game. In the shot below, I like the lighting, the shadows and symmetry of the two men as it relates to their hands, the position of their feet and how each of them have their weight on their right foot. It looks like the woman is setting things straight as she points to the position of the steel boules and the small hardwood ball called a bouchan (cork), or a cochonnet (piglet) or simply le petit.

Here’s another shot taken from the gallery.

Finally, an assortment of other shots captured on the streets of Paris.

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The Great Get Together

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I forgot how target-rich the Minnesota State Fair is for capturing candid shots.  In a way it reminds me of the steady stream of photographic opportunities I experience when I'm in New York City.  There's no time for your camera to slip into pause mode, and you have to keep your finger on the trigger at all times or you'll miss your next shot.  And with the endless stimulation surrounding you, it's easy to slide into that zone or meditative state where your focus is perched squarely on the next opportunity, just steps away, and headed straight at you.  

It was mid-afternoon when I met up with a friend for what would be a 9-mile photo walk that snaked through the crowded streets and criss-crossed the fair grounds.  It was my third year shooting at the fair, and this time I noticed several themes worthy of capture.   

There's something about the food at this fair that gets everyone excited.  Apparently, I'm one of the few who doesn't appreciate this seasonal cuisine.  Nevertheless, fair food makes for great subject matter, and I spent some time capturing the corn-on-the-cob crowd as well as other fair-foodie delights.  With the help of backlighting, the first picture captures a fine mist of butter and corn kernel juice bursting from all that nibbling.   

This is the first year I spent some time in the barns with the animals and their caretakers.  I was surprised to see the close connection between the caretakers and their animals. We saw older kids sitting in the hay with their cows, and then there was this woman seeking contact comfort with her cow in a way that doubled as a footstool..

Since I shoot with a 28mm lens, it's challenging to find amusement park rides where the subjects aren't raised high overhead and out of range for my lens. I did find two rides that worked at ground level. The first two pictures below are of the same couple in different stages of excitement.  The first image was taken as the ride started to speed up.  The second picture shows the effect of spinning and whipping around in circles several times.  Notice how the guy's cool demeanor has given way to unbridled joy. 

My last post included a shot of a woman yawning, and I'm now collecting this expression of  fatigue or restlessness whenever I'm out and about with my camera. Here are a few yawns from  last night.

It's interesting to notice the body language of people as they look to the sky.

And finally, a sample of other moments captured throughout the day.

Uptown Art Fair

I've had an unusual stretch of time where I haven't been able to shoot because I've either been out of town or the weather has not cooperated.  This weekend I finally got out and it felt good to have my camera back in hand. Whenever a gap of time passes, I'm keenly aware how my skills seem to eroded, and it often takes time to get back in the groove.

Here are a few images to share with you from the Uptown Art Fair in Minneapolis.  I saw the yawn starting to form on this woman's face as I approached her.  I waited until the last possible moment to take the picture so I could capture the maximum stretch of her mouth.  Each time I look at this image, it makes me yawn.

I like the posture of the woman in the image below.  Her palm appears parallel to the ground, her shoulders are slightly hunched, and her head tilts forward and down while her eyes are turned up. Are you following me?

In the next picture, it looks like the woman is doing a major adjustment to her eyeball.  If you wear contact lenses, you probably make that face in the mirror twice a day.

Finally, I like the angle at which this picture was taken and the fact that despite their proximity to each other, and the man's attempt to point in one direction, neither one is lookin at the same thing.