Like shooting fish in a barrel...

[ajramirez]

I love it when you can shoot in a relatively small place, full of beautiful and willing subjects. These were shot Saturday afternoon at the Puerto Rico Museum of Contemporary Art, during an event called "La 18 - Arte y Gastronomía" ("The 18th - Art and Gastronomy"). The event is a weekend long effort to raise funds for the Museum, where the Museum allows local artists and artisans to set up booths in the open halls to sell their wares, and artistic performances take place during both days in the Museum's courtyard. This time around, they decided to add a gastronomic element to it, by allowing gourmet food trucks to set up outside the Museum.

The event was very well attended and a fine time was had by all. This is a small sample of the shots I took during the day.

JDP by Antonio Ramirez, on Flickr

JDP by Antonio Ramirez, on Flickr

JDP by Antonio Ramirez, on Flickr

JDP by Antonio Ramirez, on Flickr

JDP by Antonio Ramirez, on Flickr

JDP by Antonio Ramirez, on Flickr

JDP by Antonio Ramirez, on Flickr

JDP by Antonio Ramirez, on Flickr

JDP by Antonio Ramirez, on Flickr

JDP by Antonio Ramirez, on Flickr

JDP by Antonio Ramirez, on Flickr

JDP by Antonio Ramirez, on Flickr

JDP by Antonio Ramirez, on Flickr

And, one of my partner in crime:

Antonio by Antonio Ramirez, on Flickr

All except the last on the Nikon Df and Nikon 50mm 1.4 D. The last on the Canon 7D Mk. II and 70-200mm 4.0 L IS.

Cheers,

Antonio

 

[davect01]

A lot of willing subjects.

Sent from my SM-N920P using Photographers Lounge mobile app

 

[Ray Sachs]

Nice shooting as always Antonio - sometimes it's nice to have AF for shooting people! And, as you've shown, the 50 f1.4D is much better than it's reputation...

As for fish in a barrel, I'm gonna spend a few days in NYC late this week, Brooklyn mostly, and I think I'm gonna bring 20, 24, 35, 58 primes and a 75-150 zoom, with the 24, 35, and 58 all being AF for a change...

-Ray

 

[ajramirez]

sometimes it's nice to have AF for shooting people! And, as you've shown, the 50 f1.4D is much better than it's reputation...

You are right on both counts. I have shot this event before, and AF makes it much easier. It is crowded and full of movement. Even though the Museum has an open courtyard, there is a tinted glass ceiling that cuts the amount of light significantly, particularly in the corridors. High ISO and mid to wide apertures are necessary, so precise and quick focusing is a must. In addition, I was feeling quite lazy yesterday, so I packed some AF lenses (24, 50, and 85, all D) and off I went.

The Nikon D series 50mm 1.4 is actually pretty good, particularly closed down to f2 or smaller. Not quite as 3D as the Zeiss or the Summilux, but certainly sharp enough with a smooth and pleasing bokeh.

Good luck with your NYC shoot. Look forward to seeing some photos when you return.

Cheers,

Antonio

 

[Luke]

so many wonderful smiles. Just seeing someone else wearing a smile makes me feel good inside.... and I haven't been feeling that way very much lately. Thanks for the happy energy, Antonio.

 

[christilou]

Excellent shots Antonio and lots of smiles I really like the first 5, really interesting subjects here plus the open gaze of the young girl in the first. All the portraits are very good and you seem to have a knack of capturing people looking open and natural. By the way, your partner in crime is growing up so fast!!

 

[rayvonn]

Perfect is the word I'd use for those images. You should be a DF Ambassador.

 

[ajramirez]

so many wonderful smiles. Just seeing someone else wearing a smile makes me feel good inside.... and I haven't been feeling that way very much lately. Thanks for the happy energy, Antonio.

Thank you so much, Luke! I hope that it's just the snow in April that's making you blue, and trust that whatever it is will pass soon.

Cheers,

Antonio

 

[ajramirez]

Excellent shots Antonio and lots of smiles I really like the first 5, really interesting subjects here plus the open gaze of the young girl in the first. All the portraits are very good and you seem to have a knack of capturing people looking open and natural. By the way, your partner in crime is growing up so fast!!

The three girls were doing a play on the Earth. They were terrific and very generous in sharing their art with all present, but especially with the children who were there.

Antonio is 16 now, and about to finish his junior year of high school. It is quite amazing how fast they grow.

Thank you, Christina.

Cheers,

Antonio

 

[Ray Sachs]

The Nikon D series 50mm 1.4 is actually pretty good, particularly closed down to f2 or smaller. Not quite as 3D as the Zeiss or the Summilux, but certainly sharp enough with a smooth and pleasing bokeh.

Yeah, I know, I had one for quite a while and was never anything but happy with it. But then I had one of my periodic bouts with obsession, obsession won, and I bought the 58 f1.4G. That move necessitated the selling of the 50 f1.4D. I do love the 58 f1.4G when I use it and I know it's a long-term lens that I'll never be sorry to own. But had sanity prevailed, I'd still have the 50 f1.4D and nobody would be the wiser from the photos I'd have taken with it... Except for me, of course. And I'd have found some other way to spend that money on something I didn't need, so no regrets...

-Ray

 

[Petach]

Like them all, but love 2,3 and 4 for the theatrical sense imparted. Super stuff Antonio

 

[ReD]

Amazes me how many creative people there are in Puerto Rico - priorities are different I suppose

 

[jssaraiva]

Some amazing shots, love the 2nd one!

 

[bilzmale]

Really like these - so many of your images have 'soul'.

 

[dk_photos]

Really beautiful collection there, great work indeed..

 

[stillshunter]

sublime set of images mate!

 

[ajramirez]

Thank you all very much for your kind comments!