Candidates for the "Chinatowns" series

richardman

// EDIT: Jan 11, 2012 - rather than starting new threads every time I have a potential image or two that I might include in my Chinatowns project, I am going to just add to the replies of this post...

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OK, these 7 seem to have some potential to me. Interested in critiques and opinions.

Since I shot film, I didn't see anything until I came home after the two day sojourn. Seeing these 4 rolls, I am beginning to get an idea what kind of story I want to tell now.

More later!

richardman

OK, I will cull my own stuff :-) #1, 3, 5 and 7 stay for now.

and 2011 has been a tremendous year for me. I don't really shoot "Street/PJ" until October. I wrote about this new project and a year end thanks here:

Year End and the Start of a New Project

http://www.richardmanphoto.<wbr>com/blog/?p=3268

Thank you folks for the support throughout this year.

bfjr

richardman wrote: »

OK, I will cull my own stuff :-) #1, 3, 5 and 7 stay for now.

and 2011 has been a tremendous year for me. I don't really shoot "Street/PJ" until October. I wrote about this new project and a year end thanks here:

Year End and the Start of a New Project

http://www.richardmanphoto.<wbr>com/blog/?p=3268

Thank you folks for the support throughout this year.

Ok I would agree with that selection, and I lean strongest towards #3.

Of course it does not say much about China Town but I do dig that image

richardman

bfjr wrote: »

Ok I would agree with that selection, and I lean strongest towards #3.

Of course it does not say much about China Town but I do dig that image

Exactly what I meant by now I know what images I need to get

Thanks!

("... and I lean strongest..." groan..)

lensmole

IMO # 1 is a keeper out of the set.

richardman

One more, not sure why I didn't see it earlier on the contact sheet. The old lady on the right edge really makes the photo for me

lensmole

richardman wrote: »

One more, not sure why I didn't see it earlier on the contact sheet. The old lady on the right edge really makes the photo for me

Between this one and #1 out of the set I prefer this one over the first.

RSL

The atmospheric perspective in #1 grabs me, Richard.

richardman

A couple more candidates.

torags

The one above the last is really well shot & captured.

The 2nd has too much clutter for me

M38A1

richardman wrote: »

A couple more candidates.

For me, this one holds the most promise so far. Reminds me of Liz's shot of the olde lady walking with the walker. Well, here's much the same. For grins, maybe look at a vertical crop if there's enough there and grab the OneWay sign, To Brooklyn and show a little right/left of the subjects to grab the hill they are walking up? I think if that can be done it might isolate the ladies more and still have all the flavor.....

lensmole

These last two just don't give me any impression of a china town anywhere.
#7 still stands out to me the most of all the images posted.

bfjr

lensmole wrote: »

These last two just don't give me any impression of a china town anywhere.
#7 still stands out to me the most of all the images posted.

tend to agree with that.

Sorry we missed each other this past Friday, how did that go?

richardman

I should say that, as part of a (planned) portfolio, not every single image has to scream "Chinatown!" Eventually I hope to make these mess of images into a cohesive story (I have some ideas but expect the story will unfold to me as the project progresses).

@Ben, I will post about LA Chinatown next....

bfjr

richardman wrote: »

I should say that, as part of a (planned) portfolio, not every single image has to scream "Chinatown!" Eventually I hope to make these mess of images into a cohesive story (I have some ideas but expect the story will unfold to me as the project progresses).

@Ben, I will post about LA Chinatown next....

"Scream" No "Hint" would be nice

I look forward to it.

richardman

Is there anyway to edit the TITLE of the post?

Anyway, two possible "establishing" shots from LA Chinatown. Sorry, no real people to speak of, but they may serve as point of interest. LA Chinatown is weird. The main traffic sign points to this plaza with pavilions and gates and plaza. I checked into 3 bakery store and saw the saddest looking Chinese egg tarts I have ever seen so I figured that the "real" Chinatown is somewhere else close by and this is the "Hollywood" Chinatown. Sure enough, it seems that just down Broadway is where the action is.

Unfortunately, by then it's too dark to take meaningful images. I do take a few but they are in the unfinished roll in the camera. Will have to wait to see how they come out.

lensmole

richardman wrote: »

Is there anyway to edit the TITLE of the post?

Anyway, two possible "establishing" shots from LA Chinatown. Sorry, no real people to speak of, but they may serve as point of interest. LA Chinatown is weird. The main traffic sign points to this plaza with pavilions and gates and plaza. I checked into 3 bakery store and saw the saddest looking Chinese egg tarts I have ever seen so I figured that the "real" Chinatown is somewhere else close by and this is the "Hollywood" Chinatown. Sure enough, it seems that just down Broadway is where the action is.

Unfortunately, by then it's too dark to take meaningful images. I do take a few but they are in the unfinished roll in the camera. Will have to wait to see how they come out.

Go back to the beginning of your original post click on edit I am sure a new window will open click go advanced this will let you edit the title .
I like the second one in the last two of this post .

Richard

lensmole wrote: »

Go back to the beginning of your original post click on edit I am sure a new window will open click go advanced this will let you edit the title .

Only mods can edit thread titles. Richard: send me a PM with the title you want and I'll change it.

lensmole

Richard wrote: »

Only mods can edit thread titles. Richard: send me a PM with the title you want and I'll change it.

Got it !

richardman

Shot 4+ rolls in SF Chinatown today and I think there may be 4-5 potential there. However, I suspect this one is the best of the bunch:

(File: 20120114-52.jpg)

torags

Good one Richardman...

richardman

Thanks Rags!

And here are the set of next five candidates. I have an idea which THREE I like the best, but lets see what you fine folks say. Sadly, there was another 3 "must-get" photos that I intended to make this time, but they were not successful :-( More trips coming up :-)


20120114-53.jpg



20120114-59.jpg



20120114-60.jpg



20120114-61.jpg



20120115-64.jpg

lensmole

#3 is my choice out of this set .

torags

All good Richardman (maybe a little more shadow on #1 to tone DR)

Here you're getting good at this stuff...

richardman

Thanks Rags and Lensmole again for the comments and others who viewed the images.

OK, one more possibility from these rolls. Now I have to go out and shoot again LoL.

What I really want is an image with overall feel to it, not so much capturing a moment but rather a scene, if it makes sense. Anyway, I hope this captures it. I do plan to try a few times anyway:

lensmole

In the last image I think that it would have helped to get a little closer .
If the empty boxes,bags, and the vegetable stands were more visible I think it would help put the scene in a better context and convey to to the viewer what all of the activity is about . I don't get a sense of the constant activity and how quickly things move in china town . Anyway just my thoughts.

torags

The content looks good for an environment scene (I'm guessing an opening shot for your series).

Maybe a little straightening & tone down the DR if you can

dahn8

richardman wrote: »

20120114-61.jpg

I absolutely love this photo.

rainbow

A few observations from a frequent SF Chinatown visitor:

The latest posts are the best because of the inclusion of people as the main focus of the shots with the setting complementing them. Chinatown is one of the densest populated areas and the photos should reflect that.

The last shot is what Chinatown is about -- people everywhere (the area around Stockton and Broadway is my favorite place because of the crowds). A little closer might be better, but then you have to stand in the middle of the street...

#61 is wonderful. I have never seen (nor imagined) this downward view of the food tables. Absolutely love it. Having said that, if you have access to this spot, would it be possible to take another including more of the right side showing a crowd of pushy old ladies lined up to make their purchases?

#53 of the card players is very good. Can it be improved by moving closer, lowering the camera and shooting from the hip? Especially when the hand is over and the winner is being paid? (make sure you have your running shoes on...:D)

#59 is a good shot of the vegetable market. Perhaps a little closer to get the people more prominent than the vegetables, but the feel of this is very good.

And #52 of the children crossing the street is a keeper!

#64 does not make the cut as it is the wrong place to shoot a class of tourists... shoot from the side showing Grant Ave as the background to get a better feel of what is transpiring and to contrast the tourists from residents of the area.

Other note is that some of the highlights look blown out on the shots. Not sure if you can recover them.

Looking forward to more posts on this thread. It might be helpful to number them 1, 2, 3... for easier reference from responders to your shots.

Richard

rainbow wrote: »

The last shot is what Chinatown is about -- people everywhere (the area around Stockton and Broadway is my favorite place because of the crowds). A little closer might be better, but then you have to stand in the middle of the street...

As a former frequent visitor, I agree that a wide scene with crowds is essential. But it is technically problematic. Perhaps the key is not to shoot it straight on, which gives too much real estate to the pavement and buildings, but rather, shoot at an angle using a long lens to compress the space. Just a thought. Looking forward to seeing more.

richardman

Thanks all for the comments. Thank you especially Rainbow since you know the area. The two scenes that I "must" get is a good crowd scene and a good veggie vendor chaos scene, so I will keep trying to see if I can get better ones... There were about 4 shots that I want to get after the first outing (I knew they have potentials but just didn't get good shots). This second outing only produced one good shot out of the four (indeed, the restaurant vendor that everyone seems to like), so I would have to get there again to get those other 3 shots :-)

Thanks again.