Weekly Contest, "Playing photographer #16 Cookies"

Hello everyone my name is Abas I capture (snap) and edit pictures everyday, today's own was another one of those days where I wasn’t really trying to do too much. I just felt like taking pictures and letting things flow naturally. The weather was okay, not harsh, not stressful. It wasn’t one of those hot days that make you tired quickly.
The idea this time was simple. A lady, a black and white background, nothing distracting. I wanted something clean and straight to the point. Sometimes colours are nice, but black and white has its own feeling. It brings out emotion more and makes you focus on the subject instead of everything else around.

Before we started, I took some time to look at the background properly. The black and white setup was plain, which was good. No noise, no distractions. I wanted the attention to be on her face, her posture, and the way she carried herself. I positioned her a little away from the background so she wouldn’t blend into it too much.

I didn’t want her to pose too hard. I told her to relax and just stand the way she felt comfortable. Small movements, nothing serious. Slight turn of the body, head facing forward, then head turned slightly to the side. Those little adjustments made a big difference. Black and white shots really pick up small details.

When it came to my own position, I didn’t stand directly in front of her all the time. I moved slightly to the side for some shots, then came back to the centre for others. I also lowered my camera a bit for some angles and raised it slightly for others. I wanted to see how each angle changed the mood of the picture.

The light was soft, which helped a lot. It wasn’t too bright. They give the picture depth and character. I watched closely how the light touched her face before pressing the shutter.
I kept talking to her while shooting, just normal talk. Things like “hold that”, “turn small”, “relax your face”, and “don’t force it” Every thing became easier the moments she became comfortable. Her expressions started looking more natural, and the shots came out better.

The environment was quiet, and nothing felt rushed. I took my time. Sometimes I paused, looked at the frame, adjusted my position slightly, and then took the shot. That’s the beauty of photography. Same place, same person, different feelings.

This shoot reminded me that you don’t always need colours or big locations to create something meaningful. Sometimes black and white, good light, and a calm subject are more than enough. I enjoyed how the whole process went, and for me, moments like this are why I love photography.