Busy Being Fabulous

Behind the Photograph

Every now and then a person catches my eye the same way a great landscape or a beautiful bird does. This was one of those rare occasions.

"Every photograph has an exception."

Let me start with a confession.

I don't particularly enjoy photographing people.

People are impatient.

A flower will happily let me take a hundred photographs.

A person?

After about three pictures, they're ready to move on.

That's just the way it is.

On this particular day, I was attending a blues festival in St. Somewhere.

I wasn't there to make portraits.

I was there for the music.

I brought my camera hoping to photograph a few of the bands between songs.

Then she walked into view.

I'd been doing a little people-watching between performances when I noticed her.

That hat immediately caught my attention.

The brim framed her face perfectly, almost as though it had been designed for the camera.

I knew I had only a moment.

I raised my camera, made the photograph, and then quickly turned away.

The last thing I wanted was for her to think I was intruding on her afternoon or becoming part of her festival experience.

Sometimes the best portraits happen when people simply go on being themselves.

One other detail always makes me smile.

Look closely at her sunglasses.

Leopard print.

That little touch took an already wonderful outfit and made it unforgettable.

The Eagles recorded a song called Busy Being Fabulous.

Every time I see this photograph, I can't think of a better title.

Photographer's Notes

St. Somewhere
Blues Festival · Sony A-100
Outdoor blues festival
With Nada

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