Just had a quick visit to family in the D.C. area, and Georgetown has a lot of high-end shops. A vague notion of London flashed through my mind. This is an area with appeal; where attractive women go to shop, see the sights, and be seen.

How does one capture the aesthetic (brick facades, colonial style, gothic script, ye ‘Olde English Shoppe’ vibe)?

The light was winter-light, mid-latitude, coming from over the left-shoulder/south/southwest. There were a lot of subjects, and lots of visual interest.

In photo number one, the reflection seems balanced, but the focus should probably be on one subject, preferably the guy (tough to manage if he’s only reflected). In number two, the umbrella on the right should probably in focus. 

Neither are ‘winners’, really, but both have solid elements. They demonstrate that, over time, while taking photographs, you can continue to add judgment upon judgment, experience upon experience, into a ‘tool belt.’ You must make decisions, quick decisions on the street, regarding focus (what’s in focus?), light (shutter, how much to let in?), subject (what’s the story you want to tell?), and composition (what’s in frame, and what did you leave out?). 

Each variable is crucial, and in this case, there are some focus and subject (static/boring) issues, to be sure. 

Thanks for looking and reading.

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