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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Eighty-five: On Tour – cruising the Mississippi from Memphis to the Gulf > Gospel singer, Greater First Baptist Church, West Helena, Arkansas, 2012
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01-DEC-2012

Gospel singer, Greater First Baptist Church, West Helena, Arkansas, 2012

This image is a good example of a photographic advantage granted only to those on an organized tour. We were taken by bus to a local church to hear a stirring half hour concert of gospel music presented specifically to our tour group through the efforts of the travel agency that serviced our visit to this small Arkansas town on the Mississippi River. I could move freely about the church, finding vantage points and moments in time that captured the fervor and energy of the singers. This particular photograph features one of the most powerful voices in this choir. I had to use a slow shutter speed of 1/10th of a second, and a high ISO of 1600 to make this picture. Indeed, there is evidence of camera shake visible in the details, the result of using a hand-held 375mm lens at such a slow shutter speed. The slight blur caused by camera shake creates a positive effect here – it seems to make the image vibrate slightly, offering a concussive illusion of robust sound. The softly focused supporting singers in the background add important context to the image. Gospel music such as this is an important aspect of life along the Mississippi River, an appropriate launch for our eleven-day cruise through the region.

Panasonic LUMIX G5
1/10s f/5.5 at 160.0mm iso1600 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Phil Douglis04-Jan-2013 18:26
This was the result of a half hour of work -- I wanted more than a picture of a person singing. I wanted the viewer to feel the song, and yes, that comes through here. I made more than 200 images of the singers, and this is the one that best did what I intended. The spirit of the music and the soul is very much a part of it, and the earring seems to vibrate along with the voice. Thanks, Tim, for both seeing and feeling this image.
Tim May04-Jan-2013 04:09
I adore this image and am surprised that no one else has commented on it - it captures the spirit of music and soul. I especially love the singer's earring.
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