Shooting the Shooter - Prison Edition

Ok, ok, the blog post is probably more appropriately called “Shooting the Shooter - Centro Português de Fotografia Edition,” but the “Prison Edition” sounded better.  Anyway, come join us for a look at what we were photographing when the other was photographing the photographer.

The first image is a version of an image I used in the previous post.  As I was framing the camera (loving the fact that the 4x5 showed the upside-down and backwards image on the ground glass that I so love), Ann stepped into the frame to make her photograph.  Instead of just waiting for her to move, I decided to frame her in the image as well.

Ann’s image is best described as a test image.  Sometimes you have to look through the camera and make an image or two  to decide whether the image really warrants additional work.  You can tell that Ann had an idea here, and even took care with framing (just look at the placement of the cross in the lower right, and the alignment of the vertical bars and the various elements in the background.  But ultimately Ann decided that there wasn’t enough there that warranted further work, so after a couple of shots, she moved on.

Ann’s image of me is from one of the lower courtyards before we entered an exhibit about Portuguese relief agency work in Mozambique.  I think it gives a very real feel for what that prison is like - I would have hate to have been there when it was an active prison.

My image is of the entrance to the exhibits.  Again, it’s similar to one of images I used in the previous post, but that one was taken more to the right to show a few of the photographs through the door.  Ultimately, I think this image does a better job of showing the central courtyard and the prison feel of the place.

So that’s it, our shooting the shooter piece from last weekend’s outing.  

Sunday we’re off on another photo quest.  The other day we stopped by the Leica store again to talk to the experts about where in Portugal to get good photo monitors (our monitors run on 110 v and Portugal is on 220 v, so we will need new monitors).  While in there, Ann noticed an exhibit at the Alfândega do Porto (the Porto Convention Center located in the old customs building) - Henri Cartier-Bresson Portraits!  It should be a gem of a show!