People Sisters waiting for sunrise

[-ST-]

I rarely take photos of people, but this morning, I caught candid shots of these two, looking toward the east, anticipating sunrise. Disappointingly, sunrise was obscured by haze and clouds.
These are deep crops (~135%)

• ILCE-1M2
• FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS
• 300.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/500 sec
• ISO 1000

• ILCE-1M2
• FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS
• 300.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/500 sec
• ISO 800

• ILCE-1M2
• FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS
• 300.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/500 sec
• ISO 1000

They liked these candid shots when I showed them the images on the camera back screen, and they gave me permission to share these.
We had a brief chat, during which they confirmed, they are sisters.

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

How did that chat start, were they concerned that you took pictures of them or were they cool about it?
This is always my concern when photographing strangers.

 

[-ST-]

How did that chat start, were they concerned that you took pictures of them or were they cool about it?
This is always my concern when photographing strangers.

Hey, Chris.

Great questions.
Short answer: I took the photos at a distance, and as I approached the people, I showed them the photos on the back of my camera. They liked them. I offered to put them on Instagram. They agreed, asked for my Instagram ID, and followed me.

Longer answer:
I take most candid people photos at 300 or 600mm. I often don’t know whether the frame is usable until I zoom in during review in the camera. In this case, the original frame was just two tiny figures in a busy, distracting background.

Here's one of the original, unedited photos taken from approximately 80 metres / 260 feet away.

• ILCE-1M2
• FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS
• 300.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/500 sec
• ISO 1000

how the previews would have looked on the back of the camera

• TBA
• -- mm f/--

I liked what I saw in the previews. If the previews had shown anything I wouldn't want to share with the people, I would have deleted the photos. But in this case I wanted to chat with the people and get their reaction.

The people had not noticed me taking photos so they were unconcerned when I approached, and curious when I turned the camera around to show them the screen.

It was a friendly interaction that I initiated by offering the images on the back screen.