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I think everyone has pictures that haunt them for years – the ones where we could have, should have done better...
This was taken in spring 2007. I uploaded it in colour in pre-e2 days, and I was heart-broken at how badly it suffered from compression. But then it was taken on an early digital 'compact', with loads of problems (I have painful memories of the horrendous shutter-lag... )
I was in our French Twin Town, attending the official foundation stone ceremony for a new primary school building. The children of the school were queueing up to make hand prints in plaster, for plaques to decorate the new building. (That's why they are wearing plastic gloves, French girls protect their manicures even at this age...) It was a slow process and the solemnity of the occasion was weighing heavily on them...
The picture was actually used by the local monthly news magazine, which I was rather pleased about. But if only I'd had the D90 then...
Thanks for looking,
Moira
| Brand: | OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO.,LTD |
| Camera: | Olympus C-3000 Zoom  Check out Olympus Image Space! |
| Recording media: | JPEG (digital) |
| Focal Length: | 19.1mm |
| Lens Max Aperture: | f/2.8 |
| Aperture: | f/5.6 |
| Shutter Speed: | 1/250sec |
| Exposure Comp: | 0.0 |
| ISO: | 200 |
| Exposure Mode: | Aperture-priority AE |
| Metering Mode: | Multi-segment |
| Flash: | No Flash |
| Title: | Waiting for their turn |
| Username: | 
mrswoolybill |
| Uploaded: | 5 Nov 2011 - 7:47 AM |
| Tags: | Black & white, Children, Photo journalism |
| Votes: | 116 |
Comments
What a simply charming image Moira. I know what you mean about the pictures that haunt - but this is so wonderful. You've caught the atmosphere brilliantly - and that's what matters here.
Ann
Love the story about the gloves protecting their hands - very French!! 
A really wonderful image Moira. As mentioned above there is a fantastic atmosphere in it!
Ken.
ps, I've several digital images that haunt me. In 2003 I won my first digital compact in a photo competition, it was only 3 megs and you could press the shutter and go and make a cup of tea while the shutter fired!
It took some interesting images and I wish that digital was better then.
Pascal, the original is on page 58 of my portfolio, along with the rest of the series. (That took some finding!)
We had a burglary, the old film Nikons were taken and I noticed how my back pain suddenly eased! So I stuck to little point-and-squirts for years, then the D40 appeared and was so light that I risked it - it was my life-line back. Camera back-packs have made the biggest difference though.
This 'compact' wasn't far short of the D40 in size, by the way!
I have others that haunt me from those days...
Moira
Quote: And aye, the 'difficulties' with early digital cameras were legion.
I never mastered programming this one, I left it permanently on F5.6. And when changing the battery if you didn't get the new one in fast enough all the settings reverted to default...
Thanks again everyone, got to head for Newcastle now.
Moira
like the image ,... but your technical knowledge loses me ...
I love this one Moira, great expressions of anticipation. The grainy mono works a treat.
John
I do remember these early ''compact'' days of your Moira,and I do remember this upload too.I recall I thought you had turned into a ''serious'' photographer too when you bought your D40.Dunno much about all this talk of compression and artifacts and such,but it looks a fine toned image to me !!
Mick.
Slightly wrong Mick, I was worried that people might think I was a serious photographer when I went back to SLRs...
Thanks everyone,
Moira
Quote: ...I think everyone has pictures that haunt them for years – the ones where we could have, should have done better...
I've got loads of these! But this looks far better than any of my 'could have done better' images, Moira. A super candid image, which works very well in mono
Trev
The quality is just fine Moira, the candid image is excellent. Photographs this good can be less than perfect it's the faces that tell the story of tension and apprehension at the task in hand. A marvellous image that deserves this second chance. Doing pretty well too, I'm sure you must be well pleased this time around. We could do with seeing more images like this in the papers, maybe more people would be buying them.
Dougie
Blimey, an HC! That's made my day, thanks Pete!
Cheers everyone,
Moia
I just wish I had been more into taking photos years ago and not left it until now where I am of senior years and mobility keeps me on a leash
however you have a grand picture here, I would happily give it space in my pf
You are right about the gloves and all the rest of it. Nowadays, for just a little storm with a thunder, they even need to be provided with : "la cellule de soutien psychologique" !!!
Lovely shot Moira. Those girls do look a little worried though, don't they?!
A moment in time superbly captured on camera, congratulations on a well deserved HC award
Looks good to me, & well deserving of the various awards you got.
I quite like the grittiness - and so to say, your capture is priceless - look at those faces, they all don't seem very excited about having their handprints on the schools wall, later!
Johanna
Congratulations on the HC Moira, well done.
Technical points about the camera noted, but really they don't matter a fig with a great shot like this. Wonderful expression on the girls, but the far left and far right girls seem to hold the other two girls, and indeed the whole shot, in the middle together. I really do wish I had taken this. 
I know it is a while since you posted this but I haven't been on epz as much as I used to, although I hope to change that. When I saw this image, it had to be taken in France....I don't know why. This link will take you to some images of a French photographer whos work I first saw a number of years ago in Paris. I think you might see a similarity in the subject and sensitivity. Superb image. I wish it were mine.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=robert+doisneau+photography&hl=en&clien...
Regards,
Phil
I really like this one Moira, you have really captured the 'moment' for these kids - Steve
I know I'm late to this one but it's simply taken me by delightful surprise. I love b+w images but there is sheer magic at work here. Such a lovely, moving image.
lol I like their expressions. I wouldn't have expected such a variety of reactions towards poor old plaster... Nice shot.
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