Untitled

This is one of a set of photos from last year's fair in San Francisco. This is

one of the world's largest open fetish fair and one of the largest one day

street fares period with over 400,000 people visiting. The exhibitors are

very open, they have booths and exhibits. This is photo is of one of the

human exhibits. I'm not sure what sort of critique I want, but am interested

of your impression of this as a documentary photograph and just as a

photograph as well. Thanx for any input you have.

This image popped up at the bottom of one of your forum posts, and it immediately caught my eye because of the unusual content (at least in my circles).   It's an arresting image not only because of the subject, but because of your high contrast treatment of it. 

However, I think this level of contrast is too much of a good thing.  While this person is an exhibit, there is a humanity in his expression that is (IMHO) obscured by the deep shadows on his face.  I would have used less contrast in PP.  While using a large reflector in front of him, and a scrim overhead almost certainly wasn't possible,  I would have liked to see this done in order to render him in the same way one would render a fine outdoor portrait of any individual.

In addition, I find the background too busy and contrasty.  It leads my eye away from the subject.  It does give context to the subject, so I wouldn't want to blur it out completely, but I certainly would like it to be less distracting.  From the EXIF info on your file, it appears you shot the image at a FL of 35mm and f/2.8.  I would have preferred to use a longer FL (still at f/2.8) to blur the background more. 

To see if my recommendations make any sense, I tried to tweak the image in that direction using PP, and have attached the result below.  All the PP on a small, 8 bpc JPG brings out all sorts of noise and edge artifacts, but I think it illustrates my recommendations for fill light from a reflector and a longer lens.

I know that when street shooting, one does not usually have the ability to use reflectors, scrims, long heavy fast lenses, etc, but I hope my comments have been of some interest.  

Cheers,

Tom M

Humm...  In retrospect, I think I brought up the brightness of the bottom of the frame too much.  Here's tweak #02.

Tom M

Thank you Tom the time, thought and effort you gave my image. If I was going to pick, I certainly it wouldn't be your first try as it looks really artificial and over the top.  Your 2nd attempt is better.  The set up is I had one lens, a 17-35.  It was about 98 degrees out and incredibly bright and scrims/reflectors etc would not have been allowed unless you were in the official photography crew.  However, I left that image dark because I felt it best represented my reaction to the display and because I really liked and wanted to accentuate the strange almost oil-slick quality of his skin. The background doesn't really bother me though you eye does, generally in most situations, go to the brightest thing. My eye goes to his chest and then torso.  But I could be totally wrong.  It's just the way I did that photo.  The photo of the other bound up guy is also very dark.  Really though, thanks for your comments and they are definitely worth considering.

You are quite welcome.  It was fun (and very instructive) thinking about what could be done with a really unique image like yours and then experimenting with it.   Thank you also for your comments on my tweak.  It's rare to be able to be privy to the thought processes that led to a particular look for an image.   Fortunately, we all have different concepts of what looks best, so our photographs all look different.

Best regards,

Tom M

Again thanks Tom.  I actually went back in and put a tad more light on the face and just a smidge on the torso. It seems to keep the feeling I want and the quality of light on the skin, but brings the eyes out a bit.