Having my iPhone with me all the time is both a blessing and a curse: When I attend a concert or arts presentation I always say to myself: Just watch, listen and enjoy… don’t make pictures this time.
As you can guess this was to no avail: One afternoon my wife and I walked into a festival arena filled with beautiful young woman dressed in colorful Middle-Eastern and Hindu dance costumes, in perfect stage makeup and accessories, dancing and posing artistically as soon as you pointed a camera to them. Of course, I could not resist and started filling my iPhone with as many photos as I could get.

When taking pictures I concentrate very hard on image composition and in getting the decisive instant… but this effectively shuts down my other senses and the rest of my brain. I might get a nice photo but I miss the music and the overall show. As I don’t know the choreography I really cannot tell when the dance will reach a high point and I have to keep adjusting my framing for not missing it: I forget about everything else.

My wife told me later that the show was really nice and of good technical level. I absently agreed thinking about what I had missed… I thought of playing some Arabic music while editing my photos for compensation…

Well, here are the photos. Maybe next time I will leave my phone at home… or maybe I will take my big camera along… We’ll see… Help me out please!!




You have described the combination curse and blessing of being an avid photographer very well. From what I can see in a few of your longer shots, you were definitely not the only one taking pictures! Perhaps next time, ask your wife capture it all on video so you can see it later! ;;<<
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Beautiful photos — you captured the festivities, beauty and action.
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Thanks! I’m glad you liked them!!
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A dilemma I know all too well; never go somewhere visually interesting on a date!
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Beautiful photos! I can relate to your dilemma. As I delve into photography more I struggle with being in the moment and capturing the moment, it’s often tough to find a good balance of both.
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