Smoke Break

Balls187

I was in Chicago this past weekend participating in the Chicago Half Marathon. On the way back from picking up our race packets at Navy Pier, I saw this gent taking a few minutes to himself.

So I shot him.

I was walking somewhat fast, and didn't have my camera at the ready, I had to fire from the hip. The original image is actually upside down (my camera is on an RS4, thus it hangs upside down).

I'm not sure why I liked this photo, it's about as inferior a shot as you could get. Maybe it's the angle. Maybe it's because the guy is just smoking and checking his phone. Maybe it's because I never attempt to take a street candids, and I got out of my comfort zone. I suppose it doesn't really matter, because I like it.

Enjoy.

http://photos.aballs.com/Travel/Chicago/

frg

don't know what you mean by inferior .... I think its excellent, the play of the light and his face in shadow makes it all the more interesting IMHO... made me pause a little to take a closer look

michswiss

I think the first thing to compliment you on is having seen the shot. Second is having your camera at hand to take it. Third is having hit the shutter release at the right moment. Fantastic work.

It's an aggressive photo visually with the angle and the composition. The conversion looked good on one of my machines, but is a little too contrasty on the machine I'm on right now.

Take more!

Kinkajou

I think this has crossed out of 'street candid portrait' and into 'art', and it's great. I like it a lot, well done!

Qarik

it's a great shot.

bdcolen

Balls187 wrote:

I was in Chicago this past weekend participating in the Chicago Half Marathon. On the way back from picking up our race packets at Navy Pier, I saw this gent taking a few minutes to himself.

So I shot him.

I was walking somewhat fast, and didn't have my camera at the ready, I had to fire from the hip. The original image is actually upside down (my camera is on an RS4, thus it hangs upside down).

I'm not sure why I liked this photo, it's about as inferior a shot as you could get. Maybe it's the angle. Maybe it's because the guy is just smoking and checking his phone. Maybe it's because I never attempt to take a street candids, and I got out of my comfort zone. I suppose it doesn't really matter, because I like it.

Enjoy.

Greaet subject, light, general composition; great 'seeing.' But the radical angle kills it for me. It's one thing to be a bit off kilter under the circumstances you describe, or any circumstances involving a quick street shot. But this is just too much.
However, don't worry about the slight blur, or any of the other 'imperfections' - they all work.