My son Andrej, a white belt, at the annual Sakura event in Skopje.
This image grew on me and became one of my favorites, for several reasons.
The Sakura, Cherry Blossom event is organized by the local karate organization and takes place in the city center, right under the japanese cherry trees. I was walking around the tatami floor taking pictures of other participants and spotted him, messing with his belt, as usual. His performance was over by then but he wanted to look his best and the belt is the most prominent part, always giving him trouble.
It was raining from time to time and a breeze would blow the tiny Sakura leaves over the scene. A few landed on his hair, creating this magic symbolism that draws me into this image.
Thank you Don, for taking a longer look!
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there's something really compelling about the white boy in his karate uniform with cherry blossoms in his hair... his plastic-looking coat... his hands tangled in the belt... there's a whole story here.
The focus and clarity on the boy - his face and hands - are wonderful. I don't understand why you didn't crop the left and bottom - I think you could have cloned out the bit of knee or elbow that remained in the lower left corner and still met advanced rules. With an 8x10 vertical, you could have lost it all.
this deserves more than this one comment. maybe because i know the story behind it i find it more appealing than the masses, but it's such a poignant well captured moment. im glad you entered it
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