Streetphotography; Review thread #3

[tonmestrom]

<p>The "rules" are simple. Apart from the OP, each poster first critiques the image immediately above (and only that image ) before posting his/her own picture (preferred is one that hasn't previously appeared in this forum). One post per person per thread. The point is to get an unbiased opinion. <strong>Therefore explanation of your own photo is not required</strong> . Please control the urge.</p>

<p>Let's try an added rule. Since a lot of people have let me know they want a bit more discussion here let's try to refrain from that for the first 24 hours after the initial post in order to give everyone a fair chance to post their photos first and receive a comment.<br>

Also, if in the end you feel looking at a photo it would benefit from a crop describing it is enough. And lastly, if you've got or feel there are some personal issues, take them outside.</p>

<p>And here are some pointers for those that wanted them</p>

<p> </p><div></div>

[tonmestrom]

<p> </p><div></div>

[marc_rochkind]

I like the aliveness of this shot... and the composition. Clearly the woman is going much faster. They both appear to be determined to get where they're going... to work or to school, I guess.

 

The slightly out-of-focus, motion-blurred woman contrasted with the sharp man makes the shot work.

 

--Marc<div></div>

[saintelmo21]

<p>Hello, Marc. First, let me welcome you to the S&D forum. I like the depth of field in your photo, you can see the back of a man's head on the second floor above the street. I can imagine he is drinking coffee and chatting with a friend. This is a solid street scene, and could be taken in any city at nearly any moment. It appeals to me in that way, it's sort of universal. There is a very noticable parallel between the trees on the left, the iron fence posts, flower pots, and finally the windows behind the 'subject'. These parallels naturally lead my eye down the street, and up to the guy drinking coffee. It's a decent photo, I think.</p><div></div>

[bebo_vasquez]

<p>Short,<br /> Good candid photo show man at his job. He concerned look, like you supervisor, maybe he drink on job jajaja<br /> He look very notice by surprise! I like color in photo, tiny pale, but give metal brown rust stand out in photo.<br /> Thanks you.</p>

<p><img src="http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/8423/chicago2.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><strong>City Busy</strong></p>

[michael s.]

<p>Bebo -- Virtually every photo of my old (and greatly missed) hometown, Chicago, warms my heart.<br>

Yours "warms" it a bit more due to the unusual processing here -- an effect more like a painting and it's a look that I like. The pattern of a bunch of pedestrians in the middle of the crossing and a couple 'strays' on either side nearer to the sidewalk works well in this sort of shot.</p>

<p><a title=". by sandbagm, on Flickr" href=" title=". by sandbagm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2696/4173384928_8ffca79d8d_o.jpg" alt="." width="750" height="563" /> </a></p>

[michael s.]

<p>Double post ... somehow.</p>

[mbh]

<p>Michael S.,</p>

<p>What I like about your image is it speaks of a story. Is this individual on a boat, a lake side restaurant? I don't know, but it asks makes me inquire. The cigarette, ponytail, mustache? All of these little details provide clues. While I know it's in silhouette, I really want more detail. As a whole, I found it too dark when combined with the slightly faded background. Maybe it's good to leave me wanting more. In any event, your photograph held my attention.</p>

<p> </p><div></div>

[pnital]

<p>A question to Ton!</p>

<p>I have written an evaluation to Michael's photo, as it took me some time, Mark wrote him as well ,and uploaded it before I have finised ( I write my evaluation on a draft first to eliminate typos) but it can happen to others as well. what is your solution?</p>

<p>Here is my evaluation to Michael...(sorry Mark)<br /> It is an interesting composition. The back light creates a nice silhouette, and the whole looks nearly a B/W. But it is decisive as the light on the figure's head and pigtail,are adding points of warm color. the dark mountain and sky on the upper line of the boat are adding a dark hues that are well connected to the B/W feeling .The lined (windows) composition is diverse, enhanced by the man's cigar direction the little four "windows"( holes) and a hint of a small mustache. The whole has a good atmosphere of boat and sailor at the end of day, .</p><div></div>

[AJHingel]

<p>So here comes a critic of Mark's Ferrari 430 Scuderia which costs more than 10 years average salary where I sit or some 160 years of average salaries of the Chinese (?) that admirer it in this showroom. The photo could be a social critic or a study of body language when confronted to something as absurd as a thing on four wheels at a price of more than 200.000 euros. Somehow, I like the over saturation of colors, the overloading of effects and the falling vertical lines. All enough-is-enough messages in times of crisis and unemployment. Times are however booming in Beijing. A very effective photo indeed. </p>

 

<h1 ><br /></h1>

<div></div>

[eric_arnold]

<p>hmm, i like the juxtaposition of the man walking with the people crossing the street. it would be better if they had guitars too. what makes this work is the modern/retro dichotomy. the foreground image is relatively dark, which draws the eye to the lit poster -- a good thing, as it turns out, as that's the most interesting thing in this image.</p><div></div>

[tonmestrom]

<p>Pnina,<br>

simply put, there is no solution. Cross-writing can always happen. For people like you and me, for who English is not their native language and who therefore tend to write a bit slower the chance that it occurs is even bigger. Can't be helped.</p>

[Uhooru]

<p>Eric, this photo has a lot going for it. The head coming into the scene, which adds a feeling of pending interaction. Then there's the strong cultural statement of these stands, really cool, plus the other details that have that sort of rundown downtown feel but vibrant..working class etc. Color and light work and the way the different figures in the window work is a nice touch, Churros? no thanks, but a rellano sounds great right now! <img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4294194307_c2864cf739_o.jpg" alt="" /></p>

[pnital]

<p>Ton</p>

<p>So what was I supposed to do? I have uploaded my photo and there is no evaluation for it,do you advice me to write a new one? it can happen again till I finish my new evaluation (for Mark in this case)...If there is no solution, mine will be to wait till the pace is slower or ends ..There are rules for this thread so I think there must be one for this case as well. do anyone of participants have an idea?<br>

Have a nice weekend .</p>

[tonmestrom]

<p>Pnina, we improvise. Happened before. Not everything can be covered by "rules".</p>

<p>Two photos still need a review:<br>

<br /> <a href="../photodb/user?user_id=496030">Pnina Evental</a> <a href="../member-status-icons"><img title="Subscriber" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/sub8.gif" alt="" title="Subscriber" /> <img title="Frequent poster" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/3rolls.gif" alt="" title="Frequent poster" /> </a> , Jan 21, 2010; 05:10 p.m.<br /> <a href="../photodb/user?user_id=299288">Barry Fisher</a> <a href="../member-status-icons"><img title="Subscriber" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/sub9.gif" alt="" title="Subscriber" /> <img title="Frequent poster" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/1roll.gif" alt="" title="Frequent poster" /> </a> , Jan 22, 2010; 03:28 a.m.</p>

<p>Any takers?</p>

<p> </p>

[michael s.]

<p><em><< Any takers ? >></em></p>

<p>Pnina - I like this photo. A fine splash of color with just a fleeting second of recognition -- you notice the eyes of the man seated on the left, just as he notices you (or us, as viewers) glancing into the cafe.</p>

<p>The hanging beads provide a little barrier, an attempt at privacy for patrons, but fortunately not enough of a shield to provide anonymity.</p>

<p>Also, this is a photo in which the camera motion -- I assume you're walking by ? -- actually contributes to the whole look. Or maybe the standing fan at the far right has stirred things up ? :-)</p>

[geoff_r1]

<p>Barry, quite a tough looking bunch. I can see why you took this photo subtley, but I think some contact would make it stronger. There is something absurd about a bunch of guys walking around in board shorts with pasty white skin, especially the guy in the beany, I like that aspect.</p>

<p><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4286545475_3a941ce7d0.jpg">http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4286545475_3a941ce7d0.jpg</a><br>

<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4286545475_3a941ce7d0.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="324" /></p>

[eric_arnold]

<p>geoff, the first thing which struck me about this photo was the sense of withdrawal. the angle of view isnt particularly close; we can't see the woman's face, except at a distance. she's isolated and seems weary. she's literally recessed, in a vestibule in an alley (probably having a smoke break). the strong diagonal lines contribute to the sense of removal and passivity; the striped traffic barriers reinforce this notion, while their circular shapes provide much needed contrast to the straight lines of the street. the square, barred windows add to the sense of withdrawal and to the claustrophobia of an urban environment. the traffic signs further identify the context of the scene as urban, of passive humanity in a concrete habitat. even the fact that the pedestrian sign is cut off at the top adds to the sense of disconnect and removal. the one glimmer of hope and breathing space comes from the man at the end. his existence suggests the woman isnt as alone as she thought, yet she's unaware of his presence, as is he of hers. and the black and white monochromatic tone imparts an entirely appropriate yet dreary lack of vibrancy and urgency. all of these elements combine to show the disconnecting nature of city life. unfortunately, there's not really a strong central image to rivet the eye and engage the viewer in this scene, which would make it more than a random, though somewhat subtle, snapshot. ultimately, we are no more connected to this scene than the woman, who's probably thinking about being somewhere far, far away--a caribbean beach or something.</p>

<p> </p><div></div>

[larrybc]

<p>I like how the statue appears to be looking at the "No Limit" banner. Changing the point of view so that it looks more like the statue was looking directly at the sign would be an improvement, as would a tighter crop, I think. At a minimum, a tighter crop would remove the black thing intruding into the left side of the frame.<br />Likewise, the red and white banner at the bottom of the pic is distracting, too.<br />I do like the irony of an inanimate representation of a person contemplating "no limits," though.<br /><br />- larsbc<br /><img src="http://larsbc.smugmug.com/Photo-A-Week-PAW-Project/PAW-2009/week4020091011175442P1030938di/743807791_CgB4f-L.jpg" alt="" /></p>

[Allen Herbert]

<p>Isolated, lonely and forlorn the story this photo tells.</p>

<p>Technically it is very poor giving the blobby far away look of a zoom lens stretched to its limits.</p>

<p> Nevertheless, by the perceived isolation of the individual it creates an emotional response of sadness for someone who seems lost.</p><div></div>

[tonmestrom]

<p>since this thread seems to have come to its natural end I'll take a stab at yours Allen:</p>

<p>centerpiece, both in a literal and a metaphorical sense, is that surprised and at the same time curious look that you've captured well. This is emphasized by your classical but effective composition. The linearity here is quite obvious and expertly handled. A nice touch is the hand of the adult that could be either directive or protective, we have no way of knowing. There are a few issues though. The softness I don't mind but what bugs me a bit is that distracting piece of white paper on top. Not as much though as the obvious underexposure for which I see no reason while it would have been quite easy to correct. Wonder why you didn't?</p>

[Allen Herbert]

<p >“bugs me a bit is that distracting piece of white paper on top. Not as much though as the obvious underexposure for which I see no reason while it would have been quite easy to correct. Wonder why you didn't?”</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Seeing, that you asked…..</p>

<p > </p>

<p > </p>

<p >The piece of white paper could be removed by the clone tool, so it easily to argue that (me the photographer) having the knowledge should have removed it. On the other side of the coin one could argue that it part of the photograph having its little tiny message to tell… tiny, but nevertheless a part of the photograph. The question is whether a street photograph should be sanitised to appeal and to what degree or, just be, as it is?</p>

<p > </p>

<p >The exposure was about lifting the dark hand from the very black background. Yes, it could have been done better but not easily.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Thanks,Ton.</p>

[tonmestrom]

<blockquote>

<p>On the other side of the coin one could argue that it part of the photograph having its little tiny message to tell… tiny, but nevertheless a part of the photograph</p>

</blockquote>

<p>indeed. I would have though without hesitation. Maybe because I can't see it's significance</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>The question is whether a street photograph should be sanitised to appeal and to what degree or, just be, as it is?</p>

</blockquote>

<p>yes, that's the question. Frankly I myself very seldom do. But if it helps the endresult why not?</p>

<blockquote>

<p>The exposure was about lifting the dark hand from the very black background. Yes, it could have been done better but not easily.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I wasn't talking about "better" Allen, only reacting to what I see and that's an overall underexposure. Lifting the hand from the background in postprocessing (and it's significance is very obvious) is easy. But on my screen it looks too dark, that's why I asked.</p>

[Allen Herbert]

<p >The question is whether a street photograph should be sanitised to appeal and to what degree or, just be, as it is?</p>

<p >“yes, that's the question. Frankly I myself very seldom do. But if it helps the end result why not?”</p>

<p > </p>

<p >In truth the piece of white is a distraction and to be honest should have been removed; really just being sloppy on my part. However, I thought it would be interesting to see your reaction to the Philosophical thought about the manipulation of a street photograph. Personally I think all photographs have varying degrees of manipulation, from the moment when we choose to press the shutter to the final editing, as each of us has our own unique take. </p>

[tonmestrom]

<blockquote>

<p>However, I thought it would be interesting to see your reaction to the Philosophical thought about the manipulation of a street photograph</p>

</blockquote>

<p>thought you might ;-))) As for the rest I think you put it very nicely.</p>