I’d say something more about one of my latest pictures published in this blog in street photography section. The subject was this wonderful street prayer that I met in Rome in front of Fontana di Trevi. It was June 2020, streets were almost empty due to recent lockdown for Covid-19. This man was reading a religious book in a scenic way between tourists. I was with my Ricoh and flash mounted on it so I started to take pictures. I was a bit afraid because the subject was very strange and I didn’t know how he could react. But something told me that he wanted to be photographed. So I started to take some pictures of him and I noticed he liked that thing.

He started to pose for me so I could take a posed portrait of him with my flash, something that I love to do. So I started from different angles, trying to work the scene a bit. Image posted below is in my opinion the best shot of the series. I love the flash light, his expression and details like the book, the cross, the way he kept the book with his hand and finally the trumpet with paper inside.

After a while I stopped to do this, I thanked him and I continued to take pictures around. After I thought “what a great subject, I have posed portraits, what about taking pictures of him next to other people in a spontaneous way?”. I realized that I could take a surreal shot from that scene. This time he didn’t care about me and that was perfect for my intent. So I obtained the shot posted below, the street prayer next to a tourist who was taking pictures of Trevi. I was happy with this photo, the background was good, I liked his pose. This scene is dynamic and dramatic at the same time, I love the contrast between the prayer and the tourist, it is so strange and surreal.

That was perfect. I liked this image soo much and I added this one to my street gallery (hall of fame).

While here is the whole series of shot. I took 19 photos of the same subject, maybe I could something more but I was with flash and I didn’t want to bother him with the light.

That’s all folks

 Stay well, have always light in your life

Best, F.S

Read also:

Street photography at sea with smartphone

Street photography: personally best May 2020

Light can tell a story: street photography, painting and cinema

Social classes and racism: street photography and cinema

Underground: street photography, street art and cinema

The midnight meat train: cinema and street photography

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