No doubt one of the most fascinating aspects of photography for me is what Cartier-Bresson called the 'decisive moment': the ability of the greats to artistically compose without the aid of the camera, and then to expose their vision rapidly - and but once - in order to capture humanity in its rawest form. But while this is a skill I pursue, I have come to realize over time that my psyche and this form of photography are in diametric opposition - my conscience never fails to berate me when I've succeeded at catching my subject perfectly off guard.
This set of photos is my attempt at a compromise between art and soul. Shot mostly from the hip or by quick drawn, zone-focussed snaps from eye level, these close range photos are proof-of-concept that one can be respectful while seeking candidness. These techniques allowed me to compose with a smile and a 'hello' resulting in a slight air of acceptance. The end result was some blur and grainyness but, because I was in the land of hospitality, I was allowed to walk away with some OK stills in the end.
