Crowd in Lalibela
Lalibela, Ethiopia 2013
What makes a good crowd shot? Number One is to get yourself above the crowd. Here I’m standing on a stone bridge above the people who are clustered on the ground below.
Number two is to try to find some geometry in the pattern of people. If you look carefully at this shot, you can discern a circle or whirlpool of people, almost a concentric circle. This draws your eye in. And although they are wearing white shawls, there is enough red and yellow to give a sense of dynamism.
The body language of the people is somber, each person in his own world despite being part of a crowd. Mystery. It makes the photo.
Hindu Festival
I’m up high again, shooting down on a crowd waiting to enter the temple. There is some geometry, a ‘c’ curve made of the crowd standing in the sunlight. Luckily, I could darken them in Photoshop or else the photo would have been too contrasty.
This photo has no geometry. I think the point of interest is the face of the young man in the yellow shirt.