second roll of street photography - Prague

Well, just finished developing my second roll shot on my first day of

street photography. Had some nice feedback on the previous two shots.

What do you think of this one, no cut of heads this time.<div></div>

that was a bit too dark, let's try that again<div></div>

this is better IMO. More focus this time.

Sorry, I do not think much of this one or your previous one. There is no 'there' there.

 

If you want to make some progress with Street Photography, it will not happen here. Consider subscribing to www.streetphoto@topica.com. Get some valuable feedback and every two weeks there is a SALON where a topic is chosen, each picture gets critiqued and a winner chosen.

"There is no 'there' there."

 

Huh?

For Rob F -- 'Some there' there.<div></div>

For Rob F.: For some people there is only "there" there in *their* shots, not somebody else's, or so it seems that's what Steve is implying. Personally I'd buy a technically not-so-hot shot of two lovers than a well-exposed shot of a hate-filled thug. So there.

Steve, I think I know what your trying to say, but I don't think that streetphotography has to be synonymous with an in your face style of photography.

Honestly, both photos have their strengths (Bas's and Steve's) and are appealing in different ways... while I find Jay's overall point valid, I don't think it's fair to refer to the man in Steve's photo as a "hate filled thug".

<<two lovers than a well-exposed shot of a hate-filled thug>>

 

So everything nice and pleasent makes a good photograph?

<I>If you want to make some progress with Street Photography, it

will not happen here.</I><P>

 

Nonsense. I pretty much learned SP (photography in general for

that matter) by closely watching several photographers that have

posted pix and commented on pn over time (and of course going

out and shooting a lot). And it's still an ongoing process. It really

depends on how much you want to put into it and if you really

enjoy shooting street pix.<P>

 

Bas: I think you are starting with a good eye for SP and the

portrait photos in your gallery are nice. With respect to SP,

everything else will fall in place with time - you are on your way -

just need to go out and shoot on the street as much as you can

and get comfortable with it.

Bas, if you could lighten the image up some it woud be fine!

I chalk the "hate-filled thug" comment up to racism. The guy doesn't look like a "hate-filled thug", he looks like an angry person who happens to be black. He could have just said "Don't take my photo" and given the same reaction I have seem numerous times from people who have already asked not to have their photo taken.

 

However, I would agree that photos don't need to be of "nice" things, in fact, I often find "nice" to be a comment that makes me think I did something wrong.

<div></div>

To my eyes, that guy doesn't look angry at all...he looks like he is hamming it up for the camera. If he were as angry as he is trying to look, the camera would be on the ground in little bitty pieces. That said, I like the photo. I also like Bas's photo. It would be nice if it were a little more clear, but it feels much more natural to me, and just because something is "nice" or traditional does not mean it is bad.

"If you want to make some progress with Street Photography, it will not happen here. "

 

You came all the way HERE to tell Bas that?

 

SOme crazy stuff is happening lately..

Bas - technique aside, I think the problem you are having is that you appear to be

afraid of the people you want to photograph.

 

The shots you've uploaded all show they were taken at a v.large distance (10m?) and

that you didn't really time the shots carefully, maybe because you were in a great

hurry not to be "caught in the act" (as it were). Yet the place you took these photos -

tourist-friendly Prague - is probably one of the more benign locations to take street

candids! Hardly the place to be worried about being a guy with a camera.

 

Get over this fear or nervousness, and your photos should improve markedly.

Bas, don't listen to the negative comments. I liked all of the images, especially

the latest night one. You have a good eye and if those are you first attempts,

I'd be scared to see what you come up with on your 100th roll!

 

One idea re the night shooting. I'm not sure if its the scan or the actual neg but

the shadows seem really dark. If TX 400 isn't giving you enough speed, give

TMZ a try at about 1200-1600 ASA in D-76 or T-Max. I think you'll find you get

more shadow detail and will able to do amazing stuff especially with your Lux.

 

Keep it up,

 

B

Bas,

 

This photo does speak to me. I love what is NOT there, and what feelings are

brought up. Very romantic. Reminds me of Brassai.

best,

Jeffrey

Mark-

 

Rescan and push the tones up in 16-bit. You are only pushing noise in 8.

Needs a little more detail, but actually you could basically get away with it if there were some highlights on the guy's face. As it is now there's a black hole there.

 

There's no need to have a great pronouncement positive or negative on your efforts so far. At this point, you're a beginner with it. You seem to have a good eye, if you're really interested in this type of photography the images will get better.

<i>Bas, don't listen to the negative comments</i><p>

 

Negative comments are what will push you to be better, if you listen to them. Positive comments rarely help you to improve, unless it's in the context of a collection of work.<p>

 

The thing about street photography is that it is no different than any other kind of photography - it is successful only if the relationship between the photographer and subject is successful. To some extent, it is very zen - it only works when the photographer can be become one with the subject, or with the relationship with the subject. <p>

 

If you look at the work great street photographers, and read about their lives, this becomes immediately obvious. Street photographers live on the street, their lives become realized on the street, and they eventually become one with life on the street. There is no other way - no shortcuts through composition, equipment, medium, etc. It happens because of that special relationship with the subject.<p>

 

If you go out and shoot with a great street photographer, someone like Grant, for example, it's easy to see. There's a familiarity, a level of confidence, and a feeling for the subject that transcends photography and at the same time becomes the photograph. This is just as true for landscape photography, nature photography, portrait photography, wedding photography. It's what, in the end, successful photography is <i>really</i> about.

Jeff-

 

<<Negative comments are what will push you to be better, if you listen to them. Positive comments rarely help you to improve, unless it's in the context of a collection of work.>>

 

i agree with you entirely here. Positive feedback does little to make you a better photographer, and everything to make you feel more confident; however, if I was not confident about my image I would not have posted it, theirfor I think it is important to pay more attention to the negative.

 

Still beginners I think need positive feedback more than experienced photographers. They need to be told that the direction they are going in is worthwile. However it should never just stop there as it implies a perfect image, which, does not exist.

Jeff, I agree with you. You are one of the best street photogs around the globe. BUT, if you look around here about some of the negative comments, they're just plain rude IMO.

 

I mean, if you're gonna be honest and negative about an effort, at least say it in a diplomatic and polite manner. You can always say something about a picture good or bad in a nice way and not be rude about it.

 

Im not against freedom of speech or opinions here or anywhere. It's just sad to see so often the bashing of each other's effort.

 

Of course, you learn equally from a "great shot" or "crap shot" comment. That, I cannot deny.

 

Effective communicating skills is just as important than mere good pictures.

Travis-

 

I think that the key word is effort. someones effort should never be criticized, so long as the effort is present.

 

I really like the ones that say. "it's really too dark, but you put a lot of thought into it, do this and that and the other next time. Keep shoting, you are on the right track"