It's one thing having the perfect portrait goal in your head but its pure luck that the image you had envisioned for so long presents itself to you and your camera. Today was my lucky day....
Elderly Peruvian woman portrait. Cusco Downtown, Peru
Having wondered for some time around Cusco's centre only to be faced with tourist gimmick after tourist gimmick, I decided it was best to head into the side streets. I followed a path for about 30 mins and eventually came into an area that wasn't technically Cusco but it still was part of the city. I wondered around smaller streets and after behind chased off by several dogs (which there are many) I came across this charming woman sat in her door way, quite literally watching the world go by.
Woman sits on her home's door step
I saw her and instantly thought I need to start talking to her. She didn't say much at all, in fact she didn't say thing to me, she just smiled and nodded her head. I put my camera to my eye and started capturing the moment, she didn't mind one bit, in fact I think she was enjoying herself. I slowly got close enough to capture the portrait I was dreaming of! After I'd captured the image I stuck around and just talked to her, trying my Spanish. It was a truly magical moment and it's the main reason I love taking peoples portraits. It more than the final image to me, its the whole process of capturing a persons persona.