Tilted shot - Does it work or not?

sabeshsabesh Registered Users Posts: 194 Major grins
edited May 3, 2010 in Street and Documentary
B&W and colour here: pick your poison. I'd like to know if the tilt works or not for this shot. Is a crop in order or is it fine as-is? Thanks.

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Comments

  • rgphotorgphoto Registered Users Posts: 251 Major grins
    edited April 30, 2010
    B&W for me!

    I think the tilt works because it is parallel with the sign he is holding. It makes it very clear that the tilt was intentional, and in my opinion actually changes the focus from the man to the sign.

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  • kalyekalye Registered Users Posts: 18 Big grins
    edited April 30, 2010
    Definitely B&W. The tilt works for me. Excellent shot!
  • rainbowrainbow Registered Users Posts: 2,765 Major grins
    edited April 30, 2010
    I do not have a strong preference for b/w or color. But I do not like the tilt in this photo as it states that the sign and stick are the main subject of the photo with the man reinforcing this. And I think it would be the reverse as his face and gaze are much more compelling than the sign.
  • RichardRichard Administrators, Vanilla Admin Posts: 19,967 moderator
    edited April 30, 2010
    rainbow wrote: »
    But I do not like the tilt in this photo as it states that the sign and stick are the main subject of the photo with the man reinforcing this. And I think it would be the reverse as his face and gaze are much more compelling than the sign.

    15524779-Ti.gif My first glance impression wass that he was riding a motorcycle. Not sure that's what you wanted. lol3.gif As for color v. B&W, I prefer the latter in this shot.
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  • WillCADWillCAD Registered Users Posts: 722 Major grins
    edited April 30, 2010
    Though I normally much prefer color to mono, even in street/pj shots, I think this one definitely works better in mono.

    The tilt also works for this shot, but it may be a little extreme. It may work better with less tilt, even though the sign would not be aligned with the frame.

    And I also think this shot lends itself extremely well to a square crop. Most shots are better in either portrait or landscape orientation, but I think this is one of those rare ones that really would look its best as a square.
    What I said when I saw the Grand Canyon for the first time: "The wide ain't wide enough and the zoom don't zoom enough!"
  • bdcolenbdcolen Registered Users Posts: 3,804 Major grins
    edited April 30, 2010
    sabesh wrote: »
    B&W and colour here: pick your poison. I'd like to know if the tilt works or not for this shot. Is a crop in order or is it fine as-is? Thanks.

    Tilt doesn't work because there's no apparent reason for it, other than to tilt. Horizons are horizontal. Nice street portrait otherwise, although I can't really answer the color or bw question because I find the tilt too disconcerting. mwink.gif
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  • sabeshsabesh Registered Users Posts: 194 Major grins
    edited April 30, 2010
    Useful feedback, everyone. Now I need to figure out the best way to re-edit this based on the feedback. I'm leaning towards Will's suggestion for a square crop. Thanks very much! thumb.gif

    BTW, I did this particular tilt to make the sign horizontal & bring focus to the sign and his coffee cup, which is the source of his income; Also to align his umbrella with the lines on the door. Cheers.
  • newbnewb Registered Users Posts: 186 Major grins
    edited April 30, 2010
    I think the tilt works good for this one. It draws more attention to his sign and his cane, which are both pretty important.
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  • bdcolenbdcolen Registered Users Posts: 3,804 Major grins
    edited April 30, 2010
    sabesh wrote: »
    Useful feedback, everyone. Now I need to figure out the best way to re-edit this based on the feedback. I'm leaning towards Will's suggestion for a square crop. Thanks very much! thumb.gif

    BTW, I did this particular tilt to make the sign horizontal & bring focus to the sign and his coffee cup, which is the source of his income; Also to align his umbrella with the lines on the door. Cheers.

    Okay, let's think about this for a minute. He has a sign and a cup that are the source of his income. And they are tilted away from him at about a 45 degree angle, arguably making them less noticeable than they would be if vertical, and harder to read. Isn't the fact of their tilt part of the "story?" Does the tilt in the photo show us the reality of his life and his dependence upon that sign? headscratch.gif
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  • bfjrbfjr Registered Users Posts: 10,980 Major grins
    edited April 30, 2010
    Undecided here, but think I'd like straighten (man) better ne_nau.gif

    I read and can agree with both views, but I'd need to see a side by side.
    So if your of the mind repost and let's have a look.
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  • sabeshsabesh Registered Users Posts: 194 Major grins
    edited April 30, 2010
    bdcolen wrote: »
    <snip> Does the tilt in the photo show us the reality of his life and his dependence upon that sign? <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/headscratch.gif&quot; border="0" alt="" >
    For me, it does, as it emphasizes the reality of his life (cup and sign). The tilt can also be taken as a metaphor of how his life has swung :)
  • PattiPatti Registered Users Posts: 1,576 Major grins
    edited April 30, 2010
    It's a great shot of JC, Sabesh but the tilt is a bit too much for me. It's triggering my vestibular system. I do prefer the B&W.
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  • sabeshsabesh Registered Users Posts: 194 Major grins
    edited May 1, 2010
    Patti wrote: »
    It's a great shot of JC, Sabesh but the tilt is a bit too much for me. It's triggering my vestibular system. I do prefer the B&W.
    Laughing.gif, thx for the feedback Patti! thumb.gif
  • BrewsterBrewster Registered Users Posts: 117 Major grins
    edited May 1, 2010
    sabesh -
    Prefer the b+w over the color, hands down. Can't say I like the tilt, but a square crop would be interesting.
  • W.W. WebsterW.W. Webster Registered Users Posts: 3,204 Major grins
    edited May 1, 2010
    sabesh wrote: »
    Tilted shot - Does it work or not?

    Not in my opinion - it seems entirely gratuitous! :nah
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  • cy88cy88 Registered Users Posts: 16 Big grins
    edited May 1, 2010
    B&W works great on this shot, as well as the tilt - in my opinion.
    bdcolen wrote: »
    Okay, let's think about this for a minute. He has a sign and a cup that are the source of his income. And they are tilted away from him at about a 45 degree angle, arguably making them less noticeable than they would be if vertical, and harder to read. Isn't the fact of their tilt part of the "story?" Does the tilt in the photo show us the reality of his life and his dependence upon that sign? headscratch.gif

    I personally find the aligned sign becomes more in focus than if they were tilted. The tilted man also symbolizes the "fall" of the man's life, and how the government leave these poor men "hanging" by delaying the diability pension. The tilt also made the control of the wheelchair more visible than if they were aligned horizontally to show that he's disabled rather than just another old man begging for money.

    Great shot sabesh! wings.gif
  • sabeshsabesh Registered Users Posts: 194 Major grins
    edited May 1, 2010
    ^^ Thanks guys; I appreciate this valuable feedback! Cheers.
  • bdcolenbdcolen Registered Users Posts: 3,804 Major grins
    edited May 2, 2010
    cy88 wrote: »
    B&W works great on this shot, as well as the tilt - in my opinion.



    I personally find the aligned sign becomes more in focus than if they were tilted. The tilted man also symbolizes the "fall" of the man's life, and how the government leave these poor men "hanging" by delaying the diability pension. The tilt also made the control of the wheelchair more visible than if they were aligned horizontally to show that he's disabled rather than just another old man begging for money.

    Great shot sabesh! wings.gif

    Of course, for all you know he's a Vietnam vet and has been on full disability since 1968 when he suffered a catastrophic
    Injury during the Tet offensive.

    Bottom line, in 98 percent of cases the crutch is the tilt. Don't know what to do with a photo? Tilt it.
    rolleyes1.gif. It's particularly sad in this case because this is otherwise an excellent street portrait.
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    "The more ambiguous the photograph is, the better it is..." Leonard Freed
  • Wil DavisWil Davis Registered Users Posts: 1,692 Major grins
    edited May 2, 2010
    sabesh wrote: »
    …snip
    I'd like to know if the tilt works or not for this shot. Is a crop in order or is it fine as-is?
    snip…

    The tilt makes me think that perhaps the photographer has tripped over the wheelchair, which may or may not have been deliberately driven into him/her…

    …just look at that face, and those eyes (very slight cast in the right eye, if I'm not mistaken…)

    …now there's the interest! …that face is a study in itself (colour or B&W)!

    Nice job!

    thumb.gif

    - Wil

    (BTW - hope you weren't hurt too badly! :D )
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  • sabeshsabesh Registered Users Posts: 194 Major grins
    edited May 2, 2010
    Wil Davis wrote: »
    The tilt makes me think that perhaps the photographer has tripped over the wheelchair, which may or may not have been deliberately driven into him/her…

    …just look at that face, and those eyes (very slight cast in the right eye, if I'm not mistaken…)

    …now there's the interest! …that face is a study in itself (colour or B&W)!

    Nice job!

    thumb.gif

    - Wil

    (BTW - hope you weren't hurt too badly! :D )
    Wil,

    I agree that he has an interesting face. However, I am more interested in the story of that man, than just another picture of a man whose face has character.

    Thanks,

    Sabesh.
  • cy88cy88 Registered Users Posts: 16 Big grins
    edited May 2, 2010
    bdcolen wrote: »
    Bottom line, in 98 percent of cases the crutch is the tilt. Don't know what to do with a photo? Tilt it.
    rolleyes1.gif. It's particularly sad in this case because this is otherwise an excellent street portrait.

    Thanks for the advice, I am going to try to tilt the shots that I sometimes not sure what to do with! thumb.gif

    I agree that it's sad in this case because the picture is telling a sad story with emphasis on our poor government vs disabilities after the tilt :cry And other than that, it's an excellent street portrait!

    P.S. Sorry to steer away from the topic Sabesh, but bdcolen, you got some amazing shots in your website! I particular like this tilted shot of yours:
    553862137_aW4W3-M-1.jpg

    Too much stuff for me to learn here at dgrin, what a great place to hang around :)

    Cheers!
  • bdcolenbdcolen Registered Users Posts: 3,804 Major grins
    edited May 3, 2010
    cy88 wrote: »
    Thanks for the advice, I am going to try to tilt the shots that I sometimes not sure what to do with! thumb.gif

    I agree that it's sad in this case because the picture is telling a sad story with emphasis on our poor government vs disabilities after the tilt :cry And other than that, it's an excellent street portrait!

    P.S. Sorry to steer away from the topic Sabesh, but bdcolen, you got some amazing shots in your website! I particular like this tilted shot of yours:
    553862137_aW4W3-M-1.jpg

    Too much stuff for me to learn here at dgrin, what a great place to hang around :)

    Cheers!

    Glad you like the series . That is indeed a tilt on my website - A grab shot on a swaying train. And if you looked at the entire series of some 95 images, I believe you'll find well under a half-dozen tilts, all of them grabs, in spite of the swaying trains.
    bd@bdcolenphoto.com
    "He not busy being born is busy dying." Bob Dylan

    "The more ambiguous the photograph is, the better it is..." Leonard Freed
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