Mixing In at The Mall

Today’s Post by Mildred Alpern

Although I am not a happy shopper, a mall affords an occasion to watch the world go by as my companions scout the stores. At an open food court of a Korean mall in Flushing, NY, I sit obscurely off to the side with my camera primed to observe the flow of people traffic.

Fascinating are the feet and faces of hurrying passersby. While some stop to make a call or check a phone, others are in constant motion. Escalators in my line of sight record people gliding past one like the proverbial ships in the night.

Here is a glittery world of silver and bright lights shining on newly minted goods and casting reflections. Window displays and super-sized ads fill in the blank spaces of the shopping cavern. Potted plants add a touch of greenery to the indoor setting. Then there are the shopping outfits: casual and comfortable with low-heeled footgear. On this day, one woman wore canary yellow tights; another, black ones matching her oversized shoulder bag. If you like people watching and fun shooting, a mall meets both expectations.

All images were shot with the Olympus E-M5 Mark II and the Olympus M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro, The Escalator at 40mm with an exposure of 1/320 sec at f/6.3, EV -2 1/3 and ISO 600; the hurrying feet at 40mm with an exposure of 1/40 at f/6.3, EV -1 and ISO 1600; the two women at 40mm with an exposure of 1/125 at f/6.3, EV -2/3 and ISO 1600.

Mildred’s book Haiku and Images is available on Amazon and is filled with beautifully reproduced color photographs along with original haiku underneath, embellishing the image and deepening its meaning. Pick up a copy to give as gift for yourself or a friend.