Getting a Shot of the Day: Bread Excuses

I provide this rule to new photographers: Always bring your camera. Always.

Sometimes I mess this up. Today I decided to head out to get some bread. I was craving a peanut butter an jam sandwich. I left the office, across the street and approached the little bread shack, the late afternoon sun warming my back and raising my spirits. While I was waiting for my 3 pieces of bread, I noticed a girl standing to my left. She had deep eyes, an elegant yellow headscarf and, well, was just simply beautiful. This happens here, actually. I just come across people who seem fundamentally beautiful. She was one. The colour was right, the lighting perfect. I lamented the fact that I didn’t bring my camera, joked around a bit with them, and headed back. But I knew I wanted the shot.

Once back in the office I threw the bread on the table, grabbed a bag and 5 more birr, and headed back, this time with my camera in my pocket. Under the auspices of buying another piece of bread, I started joking around with everybody again. When the girl (Hayat, as it turns out) walked up again, I started asking people if I could take a picture. Bruk was keen. A little too keen, as he kept shoving his hands in front of other people’s faces. Wolde was interested, and insisted I take a picture of him. More pictures of the group. Hayat was still shy, but as I showed the pictures of others, eliciting excited reactions, she started to smile. I asked her if she wanted a picture. A nervous giggle. Wolde jumped in and mocked her in a friendly way, triggering more giggles. Finally I was able to shift the shot from the group to her and get a few cleaner pics. They worked.

I showed them more shots, thanked them, and suggested we could take more later. As I crossed the street back home, I let out a little, subtle woohooo! and smiled. If you’ve ever wondered how I get some of the shots I do, that’s how. I love getting the shot.

       

Tagged as: getting the shot of the day