Manson – Austin, Texas

Rounding out my mini-series of environmental portraits, here’s Manson. I made this on the same day as yesterday’s picture of Kidanny and Thayamie, on West 6th Street near Congress Avenue.

Despite the blurred out background, this is clearly shot in the city. Except, unlike the first two portraits, it’s not clear that it’s in Austin. With the signal lights and skyscrapers, it looks like any generic American city. But somehow, it projects a place that is bigger than Austin.

I am a bit more self-conscious about taking pictures with my big Fujifilm GFX 50R. However, the people on the street don’t seem to mind. It has given me some confidence that I should make more portraits with it. Practically no one knows that this is medium format. And, why should they care? But, perhaps from its size and distinctive look, they know it’s no ordinary camera. Would that make people more willing to get their portrait taken than coming up to them with a smartphone?

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