Isn't that what the camera does, freeze time? Doesn't matter if you are feezing the time of day for a landscape, expression for a portrait, or action for something moving quickly. What ever you are shooting is frozen. The downside, most things we see are dynamic and freezing time doesn't represent what we experience. A portrait is only a piece of the complete picture of someone, frozen action likewise is only a snapshot of ongoing activity. So our purpose in photography is to represent what we are shooting by freezing the perfect moment. Sometimes it flatters the individual or moment and sometimes it doesn't really represent either at all. To get it right, you must watch the subject, paying particular attention to what you are going to freeze. Personally, I love to try and capture emotion, energy, smiles, laughs, all those emotions that create a reaction in the viewer.The faces tell the story, the viewer draws conclusions from those expressions.
The same holds true for action shots catching the right moment. In this instance waiting for the light and dancers to line up with smiles.
Catching that moment can create such different moods and reactions as in this recent portrait. The expressions define this image.
Paying attention to the subject means watching the subject without the camera. You have to observe closely before you can capture. You can't rely on the luck of the shutter; it must be planned as much as possible. Getting to know your subject, observing the moods, sensing changes, all gives you the intuition to capture that moment. The common ingredient is patience. Patience with yourself, forgiveness for mistakes, and tenacity not to give up.
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