A night-time shot. Nikon D7000, 3200ISO, 1/10sec, f6.3, 18-250mm zoom at full stretch (375mm film equiv). Hand Held with the support of a handy pole to steady the lens! So…considering the circumstances: not as sharp as I would like, but as sharp as could be expected.
This was taken at an open-air concert given by the village’s brass band in the church square, after dark, on our first full evening in Saas Fee. I spotted this man – he stood out from the crowd – and positioned myself some way behind him, finding a spot where I could isolate his hat above the crowd and gain an uncluttered background. It wasn’t easy. He was enjoying the music and his head didn’t stay still for long. I took about a dozen images over a few minutes and this was the best of the bunch. I liked the result. What do you think?
LensScaper 
I really like it too. Well done.
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Thanks Edith.
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Hi Andy this has the look of HCB about it well done. Andy
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Thanks for commenting and that observation is very kind of you, Andy. But…..this was just a lucky shot, and tricky too as you might have noticed from the camera data. Take another look on Friday. There will be a couple more Hamburg Hats on view.
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It might have been a lucky shot, but it works well. I like it.
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Thanks Dave. Glad you like it
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I like it, too. The high contrast and lack of detail is really very nice.
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Thanks Ken. I searched to find a background that had little competing detail
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Very Nice capture, Andy. This came out well considering the circumstances. I like it.
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Thanks Jimi.
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I like it too, and it is really very good for handholding at 1/10th with a long lens like that.
There seems to be a story in there, of the hat and the man, and his beliefs whether religious or traditional or merely about what makes a nice hat to perch on the head.
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Using a long lens (handheld) is a bit like learning to shoot on rifle ranges. You learn to control your breathing, use your arm and elbow as a strut, slowly exhale, and squeeze the button. And this was a religious man, and there were many like him in the Saas valley – all on holiday. I would love to have taken a lot more pictures of them. Wait for friday’s shot
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I remember being taught those techniques when I was learning to photograph. From a naturalist that I worked with in those days. I had no idea he was a good photographer and knew what he was doing until years later, but I should have known as he was good at everything else he did. Such as the approximately 17 languages that he could speak from different parts of the world, and writing THE taxonomy of African butterflies, field guides of reef fish and butterflies for all of which he did the paintings for the identification plates. If I had not been 19 I could have learned so much more from him. You brought him to mind, with the description of holding a camera which he showed me how to do, hence this completely off the wall reminiscence. He did not wear a Homburg hat.
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Thanks Ehpem and I enjoyed the reminiscence. We acquire learning, skills and wisdom from many quarters as we mature. Sadly, as you imply, a lot of it was at an age when we were not able to maximise the benefit, or realize the rewards, from engaging more fully. I spent five weeks in the Himalayas in my early twenties in the company of Sir Eric Shipton, a famous explorer and mountaineer not only in the Himalayas but also in other areas of the world including Patagonia. Looking back now I often wish I had maxed out that opportunity to speak in greater depth with him about his experiences.
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You did VERY well at that speed and with that ISO.. Ah and I see from your reply above, why his hat seems to be sitting so high on his head. I imagine he may have had a lot of hair underneath it?
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Thanks Helen. These hats are really rather special.
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