Bass Hall Angel

I have no idea which of my street and candid photos are any good.  I just snap 'em at whim and rarely get around to figuring out whether I actually caught anything.

My mom doesn't know much about photography, let alone street photography, but she has an artist's soul.  If I have to explain or defend a photograph to her, I already know the photo didn't work.  If a photo appeals to her without any explanation or build up from me, it's probably a good one.

I showed her 20 or so snaps out of nearly 200 I took on a beautiful May weekend.  Most of 'em that I liked, she shrugged and said "That's a nothing picture, show me the next."

When I got to this one she said "Wait!  Is that outside the Bass Hall?"  The Bass Performance Hall in downtown Fort Worth.

Yeah, I said, the West Portal.  Beautiful evening light, the setting sun glowing off the backs of men in suits and women in flowing gowns, golden glints of light reflected off the huge brass doors.  I'll often lurk around there or circle the block several times, snapping photos.

From this vantage point the famed carved twin angels, each 48 feet tall, are just behind me, over my shoulder.  I've photographed them many times.  So have countless other visitors.

So, once again, I was lurking, mostly watching the fellow at the right with his smartphone, and glimpsed a glint of this figure in white step out of the shadow and into the light.  On her second step I lifted the camera and snapped, actually looking over the top of the camera without any effort at composition.  (I did crop a bit along the right side here.)  Only later did I realize I'd photographed a cute young lady, apparently a concessions employee dressed for work.  I noticed she saw me photographing her.  I probably smiled and nodded slightly, as I usually do when people notice me photographing them.  Occasionally folks will engage me in a bit of conversation, usually very pleasant, when they notice me taking photos but in this case she just walked inside.

"She's the Bass Hall angel," my mom said.

"Hmm?"

"She's one of those angels who goes unnoticed in ordinary life.  You just happened to catch a glimpse of the real her.  We're not supposed to recognize them."

I printed the photo just now.  And for some reason began weeping.  I've never done that before over any photo, certainly not one of my own.  It's not sentimentality about angels.  The angels of my personal mythology are imposing asexual creatures, messengers of Jehovah who can terrify the profane.  And it's not about pretty girls or anything I can put a finger on.  It was just one of those too rare confluences of moment and concept and mutual recognition of an abstraction shared with another human being.

Not sure whether this is too soft or could use a little vignetting.

The printed version is much sharper. I'm open to suggestions.

There are more than two light sources here lighting this scene. It is very interestingly done. I like the way your subject has been framed between the man on right, couple on left and door. Hence focusing attention on her. The shadows and strange highlights around the girl are not really natural. Perhaps I am wrong.... Anyway, good image. Also an  interesting and touching story.

Good eye!  At sunset this west facing corner has sunlight coming from behind people entering the building (toward the photo right).  The Bass Performance Hall features huge glazed brass door frames that reflect golden light onto people outside.  You can see the distinct golden stripes of reflected light from each pair of door frames, as well as the ghostly, distorted white light reflected from the glass of the doors and the marquee.

Sunset at the Bass Hall is a spectacular sight to rival anything nature offers.  It's possibly the least recognized feature of the venue, which is rightly recognized for excellent acoustics and architecture.

Yes, I follow what you mean now. Well captured! Truly interesting and fascinating subject/story, thanks for your explanation.... P.S. I personally do not think that Vignette on edges light or dark would improve this image. Initially I thought perhaps a Vignette towards making the corners brighter due to what you had written in your commentary about this image might make it more interesting. However the back of the gentleman on the right is already lighted and on the left edge of the frame it is darkened. I also like the reflection of the photographer in the window/glass door on left it adds to the surealism of this image. Nicely done work. 

By the way, I found this young lady - Sam - a week later in the cupcake shop across the street and gave her a print of this photo.  She seemed surprised and pleased.

:) +