The Woman Who Lives on a Boat
San Francisco, California 2012
Years ago, every time we visited San Francisco, the weather was cold. Often it was overcast. I was always glad to get home to warm Southern California.
Last year, when we visited we had warm, almost hot, weather. I walked on the waterfront with the other tourists, lugging my heavy camera, hoping for a photo-op. This woman attracted my eye because she was relaxing on the deck of her boat and because she was wearing a very becoming hat. The mystery, the glamor, the stamp of individualism a hat can give a person…it’s magical.
I grabbed one shot when she wasn’t looking and then asked her for another. She was agreeable and charming and sat down as you see her. Lovely. I had the notion that Humphrey Bogart was in the cabin of her boat fetching drinks and cigarettes.
Waiting for HB
I used a film noir look to this shot. The shadow hides her face for more mystery. Her aspect is almost a graphic and I think I will pursue that idea and try to make a vintage poster using this shot. Have I ever told you that I love Photoshop?
I got the smooth look of the color portrait by blurring…trial and error, of course. Go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur. And adjust until you are satisfied. Work on saturation and contrast or curves. If you have a lot of negative space, you could try another layer using a texture. There is no end to the possibilities.