People watching with your camera.

You never know what you will see when you people watch.

I once met a woman who was a professional photographer. She talked with me at length about using my camera as a people watcher. "You have an advantage," she said. "You take the time to sit and watch and capture moments that others pass over."

After quite a long discussion, she shared that some of her best photos had come from her sitting on a park bench and simply watching. People playing chess or having a picnic lunch. Children exploring, perhaps blowing bubbles. Grandmas and grandchildren. The possibilities are endless.

It is important to make certain you carry release forms with you in case you snap a photo that you think is a keeper. In a situation like that, you need to approach folks for their permission to use the photo. I carry releases with me whenever I go people watching. 

The world is at your feet.
Inside: I believe you can be anything you want to be.

Every once in a while however I snap a photo from behind ~ like this little boy playing in a puddle at the zoo. I have had this picture in my portfolio for years. By now, the child must be a teenager. When I saw it a few months ago, I decided to pull it out and experiment.

This little guy is now one of my more popular greeting cards. The picture actually takes me into days with my own boys when they explored and splashed their way through many a rainy, muddy day. Perhaps that is why this photo warms my heart. It somehow captures the innocence of those good old days when for a little while none of us had a care in the world.

Comments always welcome.