Advice/critique needed/asked

[brunomorez]

 

<p >Hi all!</p>

<p > </p>

<p >I'd love to have some feedback on what I've been doing for the past 18 months.</p>

<p >In february 2009 I bought a Nikon FE and I've been shooting B&W film since. I develop my negatives and scan them myself.</p>

 

<p >Street & documentary photography is what I like most. I love going out there and trying to capture that one great image. I started out taking pictures of abandoned buildings etc, but getting people on film where the real challenge is at for me.</p>

<p >Taking pictures from complete strangers is something that requires some gut, a lot of people don't like it.</p>

<p >Recently I've gotten out of my comfort zone in a huge way by starting to ask people if I can take their picture. I'd say about half the people I ask 'comply'.</p>

<p >Recently I've started taking pictures in my own neighbourhood, trying to focus on the rather large group of Turks that live here. Not easy, because I'm not a Turk, but I hope they start accepting my after a while. A week ago I took a picture of some of the more respected older men in the neighbourhood. I'm gonna print it and show it to people as an example, hopefully if they see that it was ok for these guys, it's ok for them.</p>

<p >Here's a sample of 'my work'.</p>

<p ><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3jU6rAVZcPw/THrFO66KY8I/AAAAAAAAB0w/TLp3U4J7LcI/s400/Scan-101028-0013-copy-goe.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="268" /></p>

<p > </p>

<p ><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3jU6rAVZcPw/TGf3nspk4uI/AAAAAAAABgM/5E7Lty33AJ0/s400/Scan-101015-0006-crop.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="269" /></p>

<p > </p>

<p ><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3jU6rAVZcPw/S5PtFskEweI/AAAAAAAAAzA/UtUnSZeef0U/s400/Scan-100306-0021+3.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="271" /></p>

<p >More on http://brunomorez.blogspot.com or http://www.flickr.com/photos/brunomorez</p>

<p >Anyway, let me know what you think.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Thanks,</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Bruno</p>

[tonmestrom]

<p>Bruno,</p>

<p>your first photo here is close up and quite frankly a very good portrait. The Turkish community can be a bit hard to get into but once you get to know the people they are very friendly and hospitable. A good friend of mine who is a very good photographer did a documentary where I live and he got away with an intimate and quite impressive series. Just needs some investment from your side.<br>

Btw given where you live doing a documentary of the Jewish community could be a great idea.<br>

Your second shot here is not very telling as in too distant and lacking any kind of context whereas your third photo is quite interesting from a graphic point of view.</p>

<p>As far as your photos on Flickr are concerned I find your portraits quite impressive. Especially the one from your father which reminds me of Stephan Vanfleterens style, it's really good.</p>

<p>Hang around here. People like you are always welcome.</p>

<p>Btw, you don't always have to ask. I hardly ever do.</p>

<p>groeten,<br>

Ton</p>

[Brad_]

>>> Recently I've gotten out of my comfort zone in a huge way by starting to ask people if I can take their

picture.

 

Great work, Bruno. And great that you're pushing yourself out of your realm of comfort. That's a great way

to improve your photography. And by engaging people, you are taking your street photography to another

and deeper level.

 

>>> I'd say about half the people I ask 'comply'.

 

That's excellent. BTW, that will get even better the more you engage and your confidence strengthens.

People read/assess your character in just a few seconds. The more confidence you project, the more

likely a potential subject will say yes.

[jgredline]

<p>Bruno.<br>

I think the most important thing that I have learned is to shoot to please me. That is where you have to start. You will never make everyone happy. What one person loves/likes, another one will hate or do nothing for. So having said this, here are a few opinions I have.<br>

On your first, it is a nice portrait, but in the end, I see a picture of three men sitting their. I would have much preferred to see them interacting with one another. Laughing, playing cards anything. I think the picture is missing context, unless it was a portrait you where after. I do appreciate the fact that you asked them for the picture, because that in itself takes a little courage.</p>

<p>The second one does nothing for me as far as a street photo goes.</p>

<p>The third, looks more like an artistic photograph, than a street photo. Having said that, I like it, but would not consider it a street shot. Others may, and that is fine as people see things differently.</p>

<p>As far as asking permission, I rarely do that. If I am out in public, I fire away at what I see. By the time I ask, I missed what I saw.<br>

While my site is only about 1/2 done, perhaps this will help.<br>

<a href="http://www.streetvision-losangeles.com/street_shooting_tips.html">http://www.streetvision-losangeles.com/street_shooting_tips.html</a><br /><br /></p>

[leslie_cheung]

<p>If you want to shoot better composed, (street) portraits...do as suggested by Brad. </p>

<p>If you want more spontaneous, RAW "in your face" photos...do as suggested by Javier.</p>

<p>It all depends on your style and personality...Ton is sorta in the middle.</p>

<p>I wish I can offer more specific critique but I can't access blogspot nor flickers here in China.</p>

<p>Happy shooting...</p>

[Brad_]

Since Bruno has been shooting for 18 months, it's safe to assume he's shooting what he wants to shoot. And is

transitioning to more challenging endeavors. I admire photographers who push out of their comfort zone towards that end,

whatever it may be, rather than remaining in stasis. Pushing is what drives improvement. And should be encouraged.

 

As an aside, I shoot far more candids than engaged street portraits. I will say that the confidence I've gained through

personal engagements has improved my candid photography a ton and shooting on the street in general - in many

different ways. Candid vs engaged isn't an either/or situation. Shooting on the street is a continuum, where results and

satisfaction are a synergy of a lot of people and technical skills one develops over time.

[leslie_cheung]

<p>You are right, Brad. Engaging strangers definitely help, even for candids at times. It is not an either/or concept...that why I mentioned that Ton was sorta in the middle. Pushing one's limit...I'm all for it, and that isn't only with photography. I didn't mean to imply that you only shoot "engaged" portraits if that is your intrepetation. Let's hope, we are all capable of different "style" depending on what the situation calls for.</p>

<p>As what Bruno want to shoot? he certainly will decide for himself, in time, if he hasn't already.</p>

<p> </p>

[Uhooru]

<p>Brad said it really well. </p>

[brunomorez]

 

<p >@ Ton; thanks for your kind words. The Jewish/Chasidim community would make a great subject, but they are by far the most 'closed' community in Antwerp. I've lived in the Chasidim neighbourhood for a year and these guys are living in a different dimension. As if you don't even exist. A friend of mine took a photograph of chasidim kids in a school (without asking) and they went completely mad. The Turks are easier I think.</p>

<p > As for the portraits, I'm not a big Vanfleteren fan, I like what he does but especially his portraits have become too much of a 'trick', a lot of them look exactly the same, not really captivating the person in them. I just wanted to see if I could obtain similar results, and with the right light, subject & development technique, I can.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >@ Brad; thanks. I agree that street photography is a continuum, there's candids, there's portraits, and a lot of stuff in between. I like to do all of it.</p>

<p > I'm working on that confidence. I usually tell people I'm a photography student, which seems to help.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >@ Javier: I agree it's just 3 men sitting there, but if I wouldn't have asked I would never have gotten close enough to take their picture. I'm shooting with a simple 50 mm lens, zoom isn't an option :-)</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Anyway, I was hoping to present you some new shots but since I ****ed up my last roll (forgot to put the spool on the tube, hence light got in the tank, routine is a b****)</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Thanks for the replies.</p>

<p > </p>