Eye to Eye

Coffee Farmer

She totally froze into the passport photo pose. I waited for it to pass, looking through the viewfinder. I could hear myself breathing, consciously calm. I was going to be patient. She had eyes that seemed made of glass. The coffee plants were reflecting in them. She wasn't shy like so many other women. She wanted to be photographed but I didn't want her too stiff. I wanted something natural. Something inviting. I knelt down on the ground to put my lens in shadow. Backlighting was an issue. I could hear others around us start to comment on our photographic stand-off. I let a few shots go just to see if that would loosen her up. It didn't. Then, maybe because of what someone was saying, she lowered he head and started to smile. Got it. I rose, thanked her and continued with my work.

I could have retouched the little bit of something on her nose but decided to just let it be.

Make pictures.