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tg2125

"My Daddy"

On a recent trip to DC, I was so humbled by the presence of this man. Such emotion. I approached him and thanked him for whomever the name was etched on the wal...
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On a recent trip to DC, I was so humbled by the presence of this man. Such emotion. I approached him and thanked him for whomever the name was etched on the wall. He turned to me and said, "My daddy". What a moment in my life that I will never forget.
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NIKON D7100

settings

Aperture f/9 ISO 400 Shutter 1/800 Focal Length 3300/10

upload_date

Mar, 2018

Views

190

Likes

+38

Awards

Community Choice Award

Winner in Memorials Photo Challenge

Peer Award

Absolute Masterpiece

Top Choice

All Star

Superb Composition

Virtuoso

Magnificent Capture

Outstanding Creativity

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Behind The Lens

Location

This shot was taken in Washington DC late summer. It was my first trip there, and i thought along with all the iconic places to see, it would be a great time to practice some "street photography". It can be a bit nerve wracking to shoot on the street, so I practice when the opportunity arises.

Time

I was in Washington DC for only one day and this shot was taken mid to late afternoon. It was a beautiful afternoon light, and as I walked up toward the Vietnam Wall I saw this man with his hands on the wall. I was drawn to his hands that were highlighted by the sunlight of the afternoon and made the reflections on the wall very interesting.

Lighting

Being outside, without any equipment other than my camera, I was limited to what I could capture. As I came upon the scene, I knew immediately that I had to capture this moment. With the camera to my eye I fired off several shots at different settings with the light available. I do love natural light photography. I feel it challenges me to really think about the light and how it affects each frame I take.

Equipment

The only equipment I had with me on that day was my Nikon D7100 paired with the Nikon 80-400 AFs lens. As it was my first trip to DC I decided to keep my equipment minimal.

Inspiration

The only answer I have to this question is that the scene of this man on the Vietnam Wall was my inspiration. When I came up toward the Wall I spotted him, and I was so touched and moved by his pure emotion. At one point, I almost did not take a shot, feeling as though I was invading on a special moment. I was quite a distance from him. I was so drawn into his emotion that I pulled the camera up and shot, feeling that this is a moment to never forget, and to always remember what our servicemen had sacrificed. Being the daughter of a retired serviceman, moments like these are precious and moving.

Editing

I shoot in raw, so this photo was processed through Photoshop. I tweaked the exposure slightly. I also brought the highlights down and bit and upped the shadows slightly after I had converted it to black and white. Other than that, the photo is pretty much how it came out of the camera.

In my camera bag

In my camera bag? Some days it feels like I have too much! I use a camera backpack for all my gear.. I carry a Nikon D7100. My lens list include the Nikon 80-400 afs, Nikon 35mm 1.8, Nikon 40mm macro lens, Tamron 24-70mm 2.8. I have a generic off camera flash that I am learning on! I have an assortment of ND filters and polarizers. I carry my lensball occasionally, in case the opportunity arises to use it for a bit of creativity. Then the standard extra batteries, cards, cleaning cloths, flashlight, and snacks of course!

Feedback

The best advice I can give here is to just get out there and take pictures. Getting out in public and shooting street photography is not as easy as you think. The more you do it the easier and better it gets. Observe the time of day you go out and work with the light you have, and find ways to make it work to your advantage. I consider myself a seasoned beginner and I learn something new every time I pick up my camera. Last bit of advice- pay attention to your light meter. It is your friend!!

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tg2125

tg2125

"My Daddy"

On a recent trip to DC, I was so humbled by the presence of this man. Such emotion. I approached him and thanked him for whomever the name was etched on the wal... Read more

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow tg2125

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On a recent trip to DC, I was so humbled by the presence of this man. Such emotion. I approached him and thanked him for whomever the name was etched on the wal...
Read more

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.