San Francisco always seems to have a surprise waiting for me if I’m patient. I sat on a ledge in a little green space in Union Square across from Macy’s, and it didn’t take long for a wonderful few moments of time to take place.
Three women came and sat at a table to one side, and in front of me; a few moments of prayer seemed to be taking place as they bowed, sat, stood again and bowed.
I felt a little guilty taking surreptitious photos, and got caught in the process. There was nothing left to do but walk around, apologize, and ask them if I had permission to take a few more photos. They laughed, and agreed it was fine. They laughed, I think, because I first assumed they did not speak English, did the stupid pointing to my camera and then to them indicating if it was ok to take their photo…they spoke English….and I continue to learn when taking photos of people on the street.
I made some friends who were visiting from Sudan
AngelineM's Blog 
Beautiful portraits, Angeline. How gracious of these women to co-operate in your photo shoot. 🙂
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Thank you. They were so sweet and willing to put up with a crazy “foreigner”.
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The expressions are well captured. Well done, Angeline!
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Thank you, Amy.
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The woman’s eyes in the third photo are so intense and arresting.
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They captivated me as well, Imelda. The eyes are always something I try to focus on in my practice now of people photos.
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How wonderful that they were so gracious
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I was so happy that they were, Jo! They could have told me off in no uncertain terms! Sometimes you just have to take a risk.
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You’ve got some good results here, Angeline. I’m so hopeless at this kind of thing. Nice lasies you found 🙂
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Oops- you knew I meant ‘ladies’, didn’t you? 🙂
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No worries…I knew 🙂
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Thanks, Jo…I’m really practicing on this photography of people.
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Lovely images of some lovely ladies. You have really captured some of that Sudanese culture. And I love how you moved around to captured different angels. May favourite I think is the one where one of the ladies looks back on you over her shoulder. Very nice.
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Thanks, Otto. This was a very different practice for me to move around and get the different angles, and I’ll keep working on that. The lady looking back photo will stick with me for a long while…she turned just as my finger was poised to snap the photo, I almost froze…but snapped it anyway; thank goodness she was friendly and didn’t yell at me!
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Beautiful ladies! Love the first shot where her face is faintly visible through the gorgeous pink scarf.
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Thanks, Madhu. I had to use a bit of an HDR filter to make her face a little visible.
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I love discovering new people and their cultures, how fun for you
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This turned out well in that I was able to meet them, and talk to them, when otherwise, I would not have. Thanks for stopping in to comment.
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what a wonderful experience, and gorgeous photos Angeline 🙂
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Thanks, Christine. One just never knows what’s going to happen when out taking photos on the street.
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I am reluctant to take sneaky photos of people, but sometimes it is irresistable!
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I just couldn’t help myself in this situation, but I was uncomfortable doing it.
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What a wonderful encounter!
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It was serendipitous! Lovely women who I wouldn’t have met otherwise.
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