Along the Parade Route

SOooo ... not my usual fare. But, inspired by people like Howard, I have decided to, occasionally, attempt photographing strangers. I was in Norfolk, VA and there happened to be a Carribbean heritage parade and festival. Standing along the parade route gave me the opportunity to get some fun shots of people dressed in very colorful clothing.

 

I desaturated the background, and cloned out the white headress of a woman standing behind this man (it was distracting). What do you think?

Any comments or ratings are appreciated! :-)

I think that it is a great portrait (and the colour is wonderful-you were lucky!). regards, cb :-)

So you've decided to become the paparrazi! (did I spell that right?) I like the bright colors here and I think your cloning job worked well...I can't tell that anything is missing. Can we see the orig? I'd love to see the colors of the background before you desaturated it. Just curious. :)

 

L

Lou Ann, very good capture and post processing. Just one question [to others as well] -- when taking street shots, if we single out a person on the composition, do we need to get their permission to post [and or use] their photograph? I always wondered about that.

I agree with you, Julius ... I also worry about the "rights/permissions" to post images of people. I am interested to hear what others say (Howard?).....

Here is the original image. As you can see, I cropped it significantly. You can see the missing headdress immediately to his left shoulder (our right, as we're viewing it). I desaturated the background because the green fuzziness behind his head distracted me, as well as the yellowish colors immediately at the ends of his braids. How did I do with this?

Neato shot, great looking character this guy! Your frame ejects his personality right out of the frame! Perfect.

IMO your choice of desat for the bg is the right one...the crop is also really good. Those hats, that building, the trees...none of it is interesting enough to keep and had you kept any of it, it would have detracted from the image. Just my opinion, of course, but I think you got it! Thanks for loading the original! :)

 

L

Quite a character he is %) nice shot.

Good thing he was friendly. He doesn't look like he'd be easy to deal with if he got upset :) Nice shot and crop. Must have been a fun parade.

You're right, Barry - AND ... I was using a LOOOONG lens. LOL!! I really didn't want to get in this guy's face. :-D

Here is my thinking. If the subject is in the public domain, it's fair play. I can't comment on the legality as I am not an attorney. As for the image, I like it, especially the crop.

 

Do more candid work till you get comfortable and then get closer and strike up conversations and get strangers to help you make better enviromental images.

Thank you very much for your input, Howard. It means a lot! :-)

Lou Ann, your crop adds to the slightly intimidating look of this guy and the background works helps that too.

I'm interested as to why others think this man is intimidating....why? Because he is big? Black? I find him to have a kind face, and I like the way the parade is reflected in his glasses.

 

Nice work Lou Ann, and nice crop.

I'm actually with you, Linda! I almost tend to think that he looks like he would be a laugh a minute to be around. :-)