down the road from la dolce vita #2

...begging for change in Rome - constructive comments appreciated :)

very strong image...indeed...

I like how you can see the cross dangling from her hands and you can see no face so you have to imagine who is under the cover. I like this picture alot good job.

hi! barb i am not sure if its goin to be better or not, but next time u shoot a subject like this, sit down on the floor, so that u are not looking down on her, tighten the composition around her shoulders and her hand and the cross dangling. in the back ground we will see blurry people passing by if the shutter is slow or dof is shallow. then i think the prespective of the shot will be from the begger.....but for this shot, it is just u looking down on a poor begger on the street!

 

hope u find this constructive! best regards!

I like all the different colors and patterns. The focus is very sharp and her body language speaks volumes.

Thank you Deb, Zac, Dhruba and Jim, and yes, Dhruba, your suggestions are very helpful, indeed. I should have thought of that myself. I first came across the woman walking from the Trevi fountain to the Colosseum, and then again a couple hours later on the way back, same spot. She seemed to be unaware of her surroundings, hands shaking, never looking up, so I could have easily knelt down and taken shots from her level. Here in my country I would not dare to do the same, for I may be hit over the head with a beer bottle. Regards, Barb :)

hit over the head? for godsakes why??

...hahaha, could happen - for most beggars here, not all of course, are men carrying a 'brown bag' with a bottle of beer, Whiskey, or the like. Most don't look too humble and probably would not appreciate having their picture taken. Doing it with a tele-lens might work, though. :)

Now we are sharing food :)

Ok, Dhruba. Let's get a table for 3 and invite the old lady above. Barb :)

well sadly we can't satisfy her hunger with virtual food! :(

Her hands look well fed. The clothes are bright not faded. The basket looks new. When I was in Italy I started to look hard at the Gypsies on the street and their skin did not look like they had lived a hard life. When you see true pictures of street people even in the U.S. you can see the hard life in their face. Why do you think she has her face covered? I do give credit for creativity and wish I had thought to give some of them tips and then taken their pictures as they were begging.

I do like the picture it reminds me of when I was in Italy, the cross in the hand makes it for me.

Tim, it is a coincidence, but I just had visitors from Europe and their comments about this photo were very similar to yours. And yes, here in the U.S, which is often called the richest country in the world, all the beggars do look the part. :(