Here ya go...this is the original scan with no postwork (except for 1st level adjustment). Actually, I am revisiting this and 2 other photos of the series (one you guys haven't seen yet). Re-cal'd my monitor tonight and realized I was off a bit on the curve adjustments on them. Yea, the cut off hand bugs me too. I love a great deal about Asian culture, but one thing that gets me is they have a much smaller "personal space zone" than I am use to. About a dozen of my shots were slightly off or ruined because I got bumped just as I was about to snap the shot. It's like I wanted to yell out, can you give me a freaking inch or two!! :) Ah well. -=>Donald

I like these before/after examples. Insight into the way you think. Plus the description of the working conditions and how you coped with the situation. Much more thought goes into this than just pressing the shutter button!

Misha - No no..you don't want insight into the way "I" think. You're just asking for a couple dozen years in therapy gaining that knowledge. :) I also did this simulated DOF too. Dunno why I didn't like it at the time. Hmmmm. Wish I could have opened up a bit more, but was at the max of my lens (was out to 200mm, max apeture 5.6 for my lens). One day maybe I'll be able to afford a nice Sigma 70-210mm f/2.8 or the sweet 120-300mm f/2.8. Of course, lets be honest, I'm really eyeing their new 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 OS (optical stabilization) lens. :) -=>Donald

Ahhh, thanks. I now see why you removed the background. I agree that it is a bit distracting. I like the version you posted in the gallery. It is nice to see what has been altered and be able to compare. A really fast lens would have been nice to have but you handled it well.

I really like event photography, not only for the interesting people and things, but it really makes you work hard for your composition and shot. A lot of time you get mediocre or just plain bad images, but every now and then you get a really good one and it makes it all worth it. What I think really makes it great to try is that when you are in a non-event situation, the photography gets to be so much easier. No one is bumping me. No guy to stand right in front of me and get his big head in the shot. No goofy kid making faces behind what you're trying to shoot. No wondering if that was a natural or man-made smell. :) -=>Donald

I agree, Don. I get a lot of crappy shots from gig shoots 'cause these rockstars move around all the time and I'm on slow film and shallow DOF (I don't have the necessary equipment, see). Other shots seem a hell lot easier afterwards. Heh heh :-) (*