divo

I find it is really easy to get fixated on technical details when I'm out shooting.  I get a lot of numbers and concepts running through my head and totally miss things that are glaringly obvious in another context, like when I sit down at my computer and go "What was I thinking!"  Have had piles of shots that ended up on the 'editing room' floor.

Lately, I've been trying to simplify (mostly by using primes so that I have some very simple lens choices to make,) getting settings for exposure, then forcing myself to take time to just look through the viewfinder at my composition.  Can't say this is a tested technique, I've just started working with that now, but it might help you too, FWIW.  Good luck on the journey!

Hehe. I hear you.  I recently did some event photography (a dance festival) that really challenged me because I usually work in a different environment at a different pace (more suited to my temperament).  Quite a different skill set too--catching the perfect moment during an action sequence, etc.  But, I learned a lot.  For you, sadly, there is always going to be a guy with round glasses in street photography!  :^)

Interesting subject, but I do find the vignetting rather heavy handed on this shot.  It is just a little too obvious for my taste.  Could you isolate the subject through creative blurring or some other post-processing technique and achieve the same result?  Or, why block it out at all?  She is really the only face visible and will clearly be the subject of this shot.  Others are just context for whatever event she is at.

Adorably cute kids at an interesting moment in time.  I think I would like to see more frame right so that I get a better sense of what is attracting their attention.  They seem to be looking just out of frame, which is where my eye wants to go.  What is the girl on the right throwing/dropping/responding to?

FWIW, I like Antonio's crop/composition.  I tend to favour clean compositions and a certain minimalism, so that  isn't a big surprise.  Some how the cat's eyes bother me less when there is less to attract my eyes around the frame.

Yeah, I actually had no intention of changing the contrast, but for some reason PS CS5 was acting up and changing things it wasn't supposed to.  My goal was just to crop.

This photo on the other hand has scores to recommend it to the viewer.  Mystery about the location, a human element for scale, great depth of field and wonderful light.  Well done!  Had no idea Uzbekistan held such treasures!

Beautiful model, intriguing pose and nice tones.  I would like to see this sharper though.  The hair and eyes get a bit fuzzy, but it isn't enough to suggest crreative control of depth of field, which leaves me (as viewer) wondering why you (as photographer) made that choice.  I'd rather not be having doubts about portraits as I interact with what intrigues me about the subject.

I like the steps idea, but the background starts to get a bit busy for my taste.  Perhaps more blurr, creative cropping or moving the model physically to her right might let you get a better background.  That dark bit bottom right gets a bit distracting after the eye has taken in the model it heads bottom frame right then off into the background and you lose focus on the subject.

If nothing else, this makes me want to travel to the location.  A great sense of "location", the castle on the hill.  The B&W conversion is understated but good.  I'm wondering if this crop wouldn't give it a bit more power.

What a great composition.  This one grabbed me immediately.  I'm guessing that the slight blur is from hand holding the camera in the dark.  I would love to see a tack sharp version of this shot.  The colour and the frames within frames even down to the grill on the window really work for me compositionally.  Another one of those shots on PN I wish I had taken.

Hmm.  Interesting thought.  And thanks for bringing me back to this shot after all this time.  (Just realized that is my ex-girlfriends neck: thankfully we're still friends so it's all good.)  I thinking blurring it might be a good idea.  Actually, this shot was a new departure for me at that time.  Overlaying textures captured my attention.  Do you mean motion blur, or just more out of focus blur?

I agree with Catherine.  Interesting concept.  I think my favorite part of this photo is the contrast of smooth glass and textured tablecloth and also the dust on the glass you mentioned.  It gives the shot two strong areas of interest and adds a dynamic element that is very appealing.

Another great shot!  (And, a great reference to an old TV show.)  This shot has great colour and an interesting shadow figure.  It's actually a little ominous because the one arm looks like it could be holding a weapon, although I'm not sure if that was intended.

Originally, I thought this was an impressionistic landscape.  I really like what you are exploring here.  Pollution or not, this is a really beautiful abstract.  Fascinating series.

Have updated photo to remove white line in frame.

A Chinese dancer at the Andong International Mask Festival in Korea.

C&C welcome.

While waiting for the big fire show, I tried to capture the subtle tensions

of boredom and excitement going through the crowd of photographers.

Yet another winner, Lukas.  I have to admit that I love door and window shots like this.  The wonderful colours, the rust and the broken window really combine into some powerful story-telling.  It always leaves me wondering what happened here to leave it in this state.

I like the tonal contrasts and I mostly like the composition.  I think showing both eyes on the cat (still without the full head or body) would work better for me personally.  Still, nice capture even as is.

Oh yeah, that's definitely a cleaner more powerful (because it's simpler) composition.  Well done!

Hmmm.  I guess I am left with the question, "What are you trying to say/accomplish with this shot?"  Yes, it is a street shot.  From a purely documentary perspective you have shown that this lady walks her dog.  However, why is that important to you?  Are you interested in the fact that she is overweight?  Are you interested in a visual connection between the dog and the owner?  Is this meant to be humourous? Poignant? I think there are a lot of stories in this situation, but I can't tell from looking at it what drew you to press the shutter, which makes it less interesting for me as a viewer because you aren't directing my attention beyond something I already know--this lady walks her dog.

I love the simple power in this composition.  Contrast between light and dark and the human element all balance incredibly well in this shot.  Probably my favourite in this folder.

Thanks for thought Syed.  This certainly isn't going to be featured on the PN front page any time soon, but it's more about experimenting and trying new things.  This is much different than anything I have put up before, and that's exactly what I like about it.

Great lens.  I took a portrait the other day and zommed in to 3:1 in Lightroom and realized that I could clearly see my friends contact sitting on his eye.  Not sure about the other Canon 50mm lenses, but that's pretty much sharp enough for me!  And it goes to f/1.2!