I saw the two friends as they sat waiting for their bus. Approaching closely, I smiled and gestured with my camera that I would like to take their photograph. They smiled an okay, and as I raised my camera they smiled again and the one lady waved a friendly "hello" to me. I pressed the shutter release.
This was my procedure everywhere- especially in foreign lands- when people knew I was there and looked straight at me.
In crowded places I often took photographs without the people knowing.
About the facial signs of aging: The light was harsh and the conversion emphasized the lady's wrinkles. I thought about trying to "soften" their faces, but I'm not particularly skilled at such things. Plus, it would carry the image into the land of more formal portraiture (imo), and it seemed inappropriate.
Charlie
