Anna Wintour Out of Focus at London Fashion Week 2014. London Celebrity Photographer Behind the Scenes

INTRODUCTION:

Anna Wintour at LFW Monday 15 Sept 2014 according to the EXIF. Another Behind the Scenes look at the world of being a Celebrity Photographer in London. It's not all Rainbows and Unicorns? There is a saying in photographic circles which I keep repeating and that is "Always show your best work". I agree, BUT I'm at the other end of the spectrum. Yes show your best work on your portfolio site (mine is frankjohn.com) for sure, but show your mess ups somewhere else. I think that is very important! That's how you learn, by learning from your mistakes. It takes many bad pictures to arrive at a good one.......even the Masters are subject to this same photographic law of numbers.

WHAT?

So what have we here?  This is another "Houston We Have a PROBLEM" photo this time involving Anna Wintour at LFW (London Fashion Week). Yes another extremely annoying photo destined for the Recycle Bin. No Range Rovers in the way as with the previous post featuring Khloe Kardashian but this time it involves Anna Wintour. Huge in fashion circles formerly Editor in Chief at Vogue and famous for her dark shade wearing antics at various events especially on THE FROW at the major Fashion events in New York, London, Milan and Paris. A very powerful figure in the fashion world and highly respected inside and out of it.

WHAT'S WRONG?

So what's wrong with this photo then? Everything.......BUT looking at the positives .......she is there.......... firing on all cylinders. We have eye contact I mean direct, just about recognisable through the shades, crowd of people behind looking on to give some context and a story...........it's all good stuff, but unfortunately that is where the good news ends rather abruptly.

The subject which is not the crowds, not the car or the grey seats but ANNA WINTOUR looks like she is 1. Just a fraction out of focus (damned back focusing again see car seats)  2.  Totally over exposed in the white parts of her dress. 3. Obscured partially by other photographers cameras and one even has a Rode Mic or something equivalent on his camera so is probably shooting video. I think one is even chimping half way through the shoot in front of my camera. WTH? Can't remember how many were in the paparazzi scrum........probably a dozen or so, maybe more.

THE SCENARIO

Problem is when you are shooting in these fast paced nano second moments, other peoples cameras, hands, pens, bits of paper they just don't show up in the viewfinder. It just takes a fraction of a second in front of the lens and you end up with a shot like this. There is no TAKE TWO in this game most of the time. Luckily this was an arrival shot, managed to get her on departure I think with Bradley Cooper and a clear shot...no obstructions. That's the way the game is, a bit like roulette but without the Russian bit.

REMEDIES????

You can crop all the camera gear out in the bottom half of the frame, but all you are left with then is a head shot of Anna Wintour at the bottom of the frame as you can see below with the crowd in the background becoming the subject. Not really the desired end result.

Even if you went to the trouble and extent of cloning and healing and other digital manipulation, you just don't have time for any of that and ethically it's a manipulated photo. The photo has to be bang on in camera and is uploaded straight to the sales site ASAP otherwise somebody else will beat you to it.

VERDICT?

Just another demonstration of how difficult it can be being a Celebrity Photographer in London. You have to get the shot...that is non negotiable and there are no excuses...you just have to get it. Studio quality shots in a non studio environment. Lets face it I just messed up here big time.

Needless to say a photo the media would NOT accept in any shape or form......not really of any use anywhere.........but Anna Wintour is there.....sort of??? Could have been an incredibly good photo but it wasn't to be, for me anyway.

ANNA WINTOUR?

Anna Wintour is no stranger to this situation and by the look on her face she knows where these photos are going. She never said a word but in non verbal terms she is saying "HERE'S THE SHOT" They all do it and slow down just at that moment and then speed up again.  This scene here I think was 3-4 seconds tops and then......... she was gone.

CONCLUSION?

On a lighter note looking at the different facial expressions in the crowd in the background brings a smile to the face ........ especially the bloke on the far right! Every cloud has a silver lining as they say.

This article originally appeared on Frank John London