It's a bit sad that this is my final submission to WS, a venue that has brought me together face to face with so many individuals, many I now call friends. Thanks to Jarrett Gorin who invited me here along with all who participated in the beginning to make WS a grand place to grow artistically.

I took this image yesterday (Sunday 1/13/08) at Coro Hispano's final concert in San Francisco's gorgeous Mission Dolores Basilica. Tracy and I were there to shoot the performance and I also offered to take formal portraits of each of the musicians. The music Director and Conductor, Juan Pedro Gaffney asked if I could photograph both he and his daughter while I was doing the portraits.

This image is the result. I was struck by how proud each of them are toward one another, albeit for different reasons. Pedro pride emanated from the person his youngest is becoming and her in the pride for her father's many cultural and social accomplishments.

I'm happy that each of my images has a human story and am pleased to close this chapter on such a tender note. Take care everyone and thanks to Brandon for bringing us all together.

Respectfully,
Mark Kitaoka
aka pursang

i wish my photos could convey such emotion and meaning.. well done :) and thankyou for your comments

Mark, I'm constantly in awe of the images that you produce, and this is certainly no exception. The emotion that you capture, both in 'formal' portraits like this and your street photography, is some of the most impressive and inspiring that I've seen here and I'm glad to have been able to shre the time here with you and others.

I'm hoping to be in San Francisco sometime in the next year, and would love to be able to catch up and spend some time shooting with you.

Heath, thanks for your very kind compliment. For the type of imagery I attempt to capture, timing is everything. When Pedro and his daughter were getting ready for their portrait, the moment just before the 'real' picture was the most precious. I often find that the moments 'between' when we 'think' a shot will happen is when the real shots occur.

Tracy and I would love to meet you Heath, so please feel free to contact me when your travels bring you to beautiful SF. mark@kitaoka.us. It will be my pleasure to meet you face to face.

Take care and see you over at Onexposure.

Respectfully,
Mark

What a way to say goodbye. Fantastic Mark! Terrific story as well, adds a nice dimension to the image.

Nice work, as usual. "Kitaoka style" could become a catch phrase in photography.

Wonderful image, Mark.

Thanks for participating in WS and for your constructive comments (and your images!).

Bye,
Rusty

Rusty, right back at you and had it not been for WS, I would never have been able to appreciate your art or your thoughts. Take care and hope to meet you face to face one day.

King, I will for once acknowledge your kind compliment, but as you know they're difficult to accept...not because of you, but my upbringing. Thanks again.