The Busker

Like the Sirens’ call, festive, rambunctious live music beckoned as I left Trader Joe’s this evening. I walked to the car, set in my groceries, and returned to see who could be the player. Approaching, I pulled out 2 bucks to drop in his instrument case.

I snapped the Featured Image, at 6:08 p.m. PDT, using iPhone 7 Plus, opting for the second lens that acts as optical zoom. The choice allowed me to keep distance while shooting and clear way for other passersby to likewise show their appreciation.

But the f/2.8 lens and small sensor struggled in the diminishing daylight (sunset was 7 minutes earlier). The pic is noisy and the accordion player is blurred from motion. Vitals tell the story: f/2.8, ISO 640, 1/60 sec, 6.6mm. Still, the portrait captures a moment, and there’s a 3-D quality that adds dimension and character.

I don’t know the tune he played but it stayed with me as I cooked supper. Repeating over and over. I would be listening now, if there was recorded video, too.