This picture is my first submission in the 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at
100 Strangers Flickr Group page
This is also my first submission in the Human Family Group
www.flickr.com/groups/thehumanfamily/
I was walking by the river in Arashiyama, Japan, when I came across a small group of friends trying to take a photo of themselves. I offered to help out and this gave me an opportunity to approach one of the group and ask if I could take her portrait photo. They were all dressed in good quality kimono and turned out to be a group of Japanese friends on a trip from another part of Japan.
I was using a 50mm lens on as APSC camera. I wanted to get a half length shot to show the kimono, and also I wanted to get in some of the famous Togetsu bridge in the background. I had to step back a bit - a 35mm might have been more appropriate.
One of my mistakes was to ask her not to smile. I was hoping for more of a neutral face - but getting a Japanese girl to stop smiling is nigh on impossible. So I unfortunately ended up with a half smile. Next time I will be more careful.
Thanks to Yumi for allowing me to take her photo for this project.
