faces in the crowd London Tourists

2 cents... The sideburned man enhances by his contrast to the "family". He adds to the nature of the busy city that the other three seem so in awe of. I can tell the subjects are related...they all have the same teeth! Photoshop work needs some refining. A fun image. Congratulations David on POW.

Tony, your latest post about the Eustachean tubes sounds a bit drastic. It should have come with a health warning: 'Please don't try this at home.' A few glasses of Shiraz is the cure, at least you don't know whether the spinning head is coming from the Eustacheans or the dark nectar.

YES, the photo would be much better composed = be a lot more

beautiful without this walking moustache. At this point 90 percent

of the people writing here are right, ok? BUT (again): In this very

special case I love the thought of sharing 1/125th second of life

at it was - without being showed an "enhanced" version of it. And,

of course, I don't NEED the guy to BELIEVE it is REAL.

Maybe they're all just talking at the same time. I come a big Italian family where they never stop talking. It wouldn't be too difficult for me to catch them all on film with their mouths open.

But of course the beauty of this shot is that David caught it in an instant on the street. It would have been perfect, IMO, without the man in the background, but the magic of the shot still shows through.

a friend just asked if I had seen the POW. Since I'm not a POW regular I said "no of course not" but I came and checked and repsonded to her "HAHAHA. I love it"

 

Good job :)

After reading many of the comments, I looked again at the 'distracting' Mr. Moustache in the background, and realized that there are actually two people taking up that space. This can be seen by looking at the top of Mr. Moustache's head, and at his shoulders. I'm not sure that David consciously waited until the 2 distracting passersby became one before snapping the picture, but I must compliment him on his timing. I think I finally understand what they mean by "gob smacked" - funny British term.

When I first looked at this POW, you could have photographed pretty much the same expression on my face -- this is great, I love it! And it doesn't wear out.

This makes me feel nostalgic just looking at it. +5 for the nostalgia factor alone. Other than that, it is a good example of how people can be entertaining subjects.

A slice from real life, very good depth of field, nice tonality... Very fine photograph. I like it.

I'm missing something big time. I've scanned through the comments so far, and none of the oo's and ah's resonate with me at all. (Sorry, David - thanks for the intellectual stimulation, though!) I'm trying to see on at least two levels: i) the composition as an abstraction and/or ii) the compelling human element - and nothing is coming to me. I'm not quite alone - but almost!

One of my problems isn't whether the guy(s) in the middle should be there or not, but that he/they seem to be the actual subject of the photo - but then kind of blah - with the small (family?) gathering in front of him them for framing and context. That's just where my eye gets repeatedly led back to, and I find it very distracting.

Under other circumstances all I would say is: Nice try, good effort, would like to see more of your work, keep at it. I accept that this isn't an Emperor's clothes problem, because the praise sounds very genuine and well-reasoned. I'm simply quite puzzled that I don't see what all the hoopla is about.

nice one.. I'd be happy to call it mine... those who think it looks staged need to get out and shoot more - arm chair street photography is one thing.. street photography is another animal all together.

 

congrats on POW Mr. Malcolmson.

As my tenure of the POW slot draws to a close I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all who called by to leave their comments. Its heartening to see that such an old photo can inspire a bit of stimulating debate, controversy and humour. For me its been a real education. I would also like to record my particular gratitude to a few who visited me in the back pages and were constantly supportive and encouraging: (in alphabetical order) J.D., J.G.( in the most practical way), A.H., A.K., M-H.R., H.S., M.S., E.J.T., J.V., R.V., K.W. It is to them that I dedicate my POW.

To the Elves (and their little helper the Blue Pencil Fairy), a few words. First, thank you, its a mighty surprise. I hope that you will continue to look through the more obscure pages here, they are full of undiscovered treasures that deserve to see the light of day it would be great if Photo.net could devise a method of giving their best folders a proper showcase.

youve ruined it all with photoslop

Come on Grant, "youve ruined it all with photoslop" (sic) is a bit strong. I grant you the selection for blurring could be better, as seen on the girls right arm for instance, but the captured moment shown in this photo is still a very effective and interesting one. Are you just anti Photoshop or do you really mean what you say?

 

Look forward to your answer

I cannot tell you how much I enjoy this picture. Its impact will make an impression on all my work in the future.

 

Great Work!

"We are the clumsy passersby,

we push past each other with elbows, with feet, with trousers,

with suitcases,

we get off the train, the jet plane, the ship, we step down

in our wrinkled suits and sinister hats.

We are all guilty, we are all sinners,

we come from dead-end hotels or industrial peace,

this might be our last clean shirt,

we have misplaced our tie,

yet even so, on the edge of panic, pompous,

sons of bitches who move in the highest circles

or quiet types who don't owe anything to anybody,

we are one and the same, the same in time's eyes,

or in solitude's: we are the poor devils

who earn a living and a death working

bureautragically or in the usual ways,

sitting down or packed together in subway stations,

boats, mines, research centers, jails,

universities, breweries,

(under our clothes the same thirsty skin),

(the hair, the same hair, only in different colors). "

(Pablo Neruda, 1904-1973)

Great shot! I love the depth of field and the 3D feelling. What about those faces??? Aesthetics 6.8/7 Originality 6,3/7.

Looks like time stood still and we are panning 360 degrees around them like in the Matrix!

 

Very nice work. Another favorite B&W of mine!!

 

-MJR-

Well david now that the hoopla is over I'll give it 7's. It (and its master) deserve no less...cheers...jim

David,

 

Could you say something about the interpersonal aspects of "street photography"? You know from our private correspondence that this is stumbling block for me. You've said, "I can assure you , if you hang around long enough people cease to notice you and you fade into the background. Most people are so preoccupied with their own concerns that they are hardly aware of other people."

 

So, when you do street photography, are you moving? How do you "blend in"? My primary experience in this matter arises from gatherings of friends and family, where people often stiffen when they see my camera raised, although yes they will mentally move on in a minute and that's often when I get my pics. But I'm having trouble envisaging getting to that stage with strangers, in a public place, when I'm probably on the move (and therefore more visible).

 

Are there any "secret mechanics" to making yourself unobstrusive? I mean, with this shot, you're almost on top of them (aren't you?). Does it really happen all by itself? Don't you have to hold still? Wouldn't new people coming into the scene notice you and take a minute to relegate you in their minds as "background material" - but then aren't people always coming and going, and so not often getting to that stage?

 

Thanks.

 

Charles

here is a PS edit without the mustache-guy

its like they r looking at WTC while its collapsing ...lol

WTC was not in London.

hehehe...this is really a great picture, and i say that not only cause i know that u have been invited to exhibitions and all and caue you are a famous photographer!!! it really looks like you froze time and all the impressions on their faces, congratulations!!!

This is spectacular. The reason I am never without a camera is photos like this one.