Thank you for the detailed explanation of your series. I think you have a great idea and understanding the limitations you are working with helps me appreciate the photos in the series more. I have discovered that photographers tend to be either landscape types, or portrait types - very few are comfortable in both worlds. I myself lean towards landscape, and the only portait type pictures are of family members and close friends (for the most part). I look forward to seeing more of your images of life seen from up above the streets.
Thank you for your comments and compliments, always appreciated especially from a fellow Canadian. While I agree with most of your comments, for many reasons this just isn’t really a viable option. I agree that involving their eyes and facial expressions would likely add to the pictures as a whole, but it would somewhat take-away from the concept I was exploring. I rarely if ever take pictures of people, I generally find them unappealing subjects, and I only really started this portfolio when a couple of scenes caught my eye through my office window, playing out like little stories. It then evolved into me taking pictures from my office whenever something interesting was going on outside. Although unintentional, I think the detached perspective really works for the portfolio in terms of each picture being the story of someone I watched through my window from a distance. Additionally I am hesitant to take up-close and personal photos in general as I feel it somewhat invades their privacy, by taking these shots from eight storeys up with a zoom lens, it is unlikely that these people are even aware that they have been photographed, something I feel is important to maintain especially as a guest in their country.
The pictures you posted today all are looking down on the people, which allows you to take their picture without them knowing, but it gives the viewer of the picture a detached perspective. I would prefer to see these people in your pictures from their level, to see their eyes and facial expressions. I see from your Portfolio title that you are 8 storeys up from street level and that perspective is certainly one way of looking at the world, for myself I usually prefer more up close and personal. However that being said I do like the composition of this picture - the red hat really stands out and it gives the picture some personality. Your pictures certainly offer a glimpse into life in today's Ethiopia. I look forward to seeing more pictures from your camera.
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