Homeless Person Candid

Trevlan

Walking in the city, taking photos for the MA #2 of backgrounds, I literaly stumbled over this homeless person. It's a shame that things like this still happen, but I was able to capture this moment and I feel the Black and white really brings out the pain this person is feeling. Let me know what you guys think.

Qarik

I like the shot over all..I think you could crop out the right side of the photo. The BW works but the over contrasty treatment I think detracts form the "realism" if get me.

Wineman

I agree...
I agree with the cropping on the right side, but the over contrast thing I love. Well done.

Thanks for sharing.

Z.

Sam

Trevlan,

Did you have him sign a model release? If not think about having him / her sign a model release, and give them $5.00. That way they acutally erned the $5.00 (Ok sort of)

Sam

Trevlan

Qarik wrote:

I like the shot over all..I think you could crop out the right side of the photo. The BW works but the over contrasty treatment I think detracts form the "realism" if get me.

I agree with the crop. I feel as if I rushed it a bit and really didn't think about anyone else thinking what I was thinking. (lol). I wanted to show that those were all of his belongings by leaving some of the empty space to the right. Some space at the bottom to show a half smoked cigarette that he will no doubt smoke after his meal.

The contrasty look, adds a little drama to the otherwise, bland background, but I can post a black and white without the high contrast look for comparison, when I get home tonight if you guys would like. The color version just looks too happy and this is not a happy picture.

This person has obviously just become homeless. He didn't smell, his fingernails were relatively clean, he was well spoken and very grateful. Regardless of what this person did or didn't do, it's a rude awakening that this can happen to anyone. Some people just have bad luck.

In regards to the crop, at first I wanted a nice tight crop, putting his left eye on like the first intersection point in the rule of thirds, and having the sign near the second intersetion point. But when I did it, I felt as if it didn't convey the message enough. I'll do a tight crop tonight and remove the contrasty look and see if you guys like that version better. I'm trying to go beyond the point of a great snapshot. I want to capture images. Thanks for all of the help.

Trevlan

Sam wrote:

Trevlan,

Did you have him sign a model release? If not think about having him / her sign a model release, and give them $5.00. That way they acutally erned the $5.00 (Ok sort of)

Sam

Funny thing you said that Sam. I actually stole the picture to get the "What do you want from me and why are you snapping pictures of me?" look. Then I gave him the 5 bucks. Didn't have a release form on me. LoL. Hope he doesn't sue if someone buys this picture. But as for now, it's in my personal collection and here so that you guys can help me improve.

Awais Yaqub

Nice image

twidler

I have a feeling that a lower viewpoint might look better. I like the pic anyhow. Brings out the mood.

john

Ed911

Perspective,

Nice picture...I like it just the way it is. I think you get extra credit for showing his enviroment...cigarette buts, dirty sidewalk...his little, unfortunate corner of the world.

I think your black and white, less contrast, will lose it's artistic feel...and just be a documentary photo. You're going to lose a lot in the shadows...like his worn shoe sole, the look of his clothes, etc.

Anyway, I'd still like to see it...so I can see what you started out with.

I don't know if I could walk up to someone in his predicament and ask if I could take his photo. You, and other street photographers, get extra points for that too.

Trevlan

Ed911 wrote:

Perspective,

Nice picture...I like it just the way it is. I think you get extra credit for showing his enviroment...cigarette buts, dirty sidewalk...his little, unfortunate corner of the world.

I think your black and white, less contrast, will lose it's artistic feel...and just be a documentary photo. You're going to lose a lot in the shadows...like his worn shoe sole, the look of his clothes, etc.

Anyway, I'd still like to see it...so I can see what you started out with.

I don't know if I could walk up to someone in his predicament and ask if I could take his photo. You, and other street photographers, get extra points for that too.

Thanks for your kind words Ed. Unfortunately, I got home late last night and couldn't do the crop. Twidler made a great suggestion, I should have gotten lower, but I feel if I asked him for the picture, he would have tried to pose and not give a 'natural' look. I basically tripped over him and shot the picture. Lucky for me, I was doing the homework for the MA #2 assignment and I took a picture of a wall, in the same light, directly next to him. I was able to get really close to the correct exposure give or take 1/3 of a stop. At first I was shy to take pictures, but the statistic for being on camera in NYC is 10,000 times a day. What's one more?

Sam

Trevlan wrote:

Funny thing you said that Sam. I actually stole the picture to get the "What do you want from me and why are you snapping pictures of me?" look. Then I gave him the 5 bucks. Didn't have a release form on me. LoL. Hope he doesn't sue if someone buys this picture. But as for now, it's in my personal collection and here so that you guys can help me improve.

Good deal! I don't think you need to worry about a model release, although there was a homeless guy who made a very tidy( think 6 figures) living out of suing libraries for throwing him out, he didn't bath, and stunk to high heaven. I just thought it would be a way to maybe allow him to feel like he actually did something productive, rather than just get a fiver.

But nice to give him something.

Sam

beetle8

I think the picture is great just the way it is,
At first thought the lower angle was a good idea but the down angle makes me more sympathetic (I think)
The comp is right on I wouldn't crop it at all,
I think the tone and contrast are good
I guess if I were going to play with it anymore I'd see what a bit of added noise would do or maybe a grungy overlay.

I'll agree with the courage thing, I often want to take pictures on the street and just get scared of offending someone.
I don't think you need to worry about the MR,
-Keith

Trevlan

Thanks bettle.

Here are the cropped versions and I feel that they don't have the same impact.


First one is straight black and white, and the other is high contrast.

#1


#2

beetle8

I checked out your site, great stuff

Richard

Trevlan wrote:

Thanks bettle.

Here are the cropped versions and I feel that they don't have the same impact.


First one is straight black and white, and the other is high contrast.

#1


#2

Frank,
I don't see these pics. Check your links.

I like the original a lot. If you had shot lower you might have been able to see his eyes better--those caps are always a problem. But street shooting requires fast reflexes and I think this is a good capture. I like the processing as is.

Trevlan

Thanks beetle!

Sorry about that guys, I hid the pictures so it wouldn't clutter my gallery. They should be working now.

The thing with street shooting, is just like Richard said, you have to be quick and ready to go if you want to truly capture the candid moment. I actually shot that in manual, but Aperture Priority is a photographer's viagra. ;-)

Most likely I'll hit the streets of midtown again this weekend and see what I can come up with. Thanks for the kind words guys.

Trevlan

Let me know when you guys view the cropped versions. I'm going to take them down soon because they are cluttering my NYC gallery. Thanks!

lisap

I really like the first posted photo out of the bunch the best. Love the contrast and I think in the cropped version you lose some of the story that goes along with the photograph.

-- Lisa P.

beetle8

Hey Frank,
You should create a private gallery that you can place stuff like this in so it doesn't mess up the appearance of your main site.
I have one that I call forum shots for just such occasions.

ktdid

I like the first photo you posted as well. I like the contrast--it helps communicate the reality of his situation, I think. I also like the first version for its lack of crop (geez, typo, I typed 'lack of crap' before I fixed it...yes, I like the lack of crap, too! ). As you pointed out, it gives the viewer the sense that the belongings you see are all he has.

Great capture.

Trevlan

Thanks for everything guys/gals. Good suggestion Keith. I like your stuff also, been snooping around your smugmug. ;-)