Please review my Street Photography

asamuel

A couple of days ago I asked about exposure values in Street photography. I want to develop this angle of photography. I got some great advice and I read some interesting tutorials and introductions. you can check that out here:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=31476

So I gave it a go and took these over the following days. I set my camera to Av, I used exposure compensation where I could. I thought about the sunny f/16 rule...briefly. and went on to the 'f8 and be there' principle.

I didn't white balance, once. Instead it was on AWB.

Post production I cropped a bit, did the first part of 'giving the picture pop' and for the bw did the 'bw conversion'.

I would love more feed back. TECHNICAL, THEORECTICAL, PHILOSOPHICAL ETC. Its a two day project that I did to learn from. I think I chose some of the weaker and some of the stronger (but here but please check out my SmugMug page for the two days ......................................... http://halfpenceteddycrew.smugmug.com/gallery/1347826)
THANKS

Andy

I'd like to see you spend some time on your BW conversions:

http://blogs.smugmug.com/pros/2006/01/15/its-a-black-and-white-world/
http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/1126557
http://blogs.smugmug.com/pros/2005/12/26/better-black-white/

System

asamuel-

nice pics-

#1-empty space on the left-cut off shovels on the right and at the bottom-you're cutting off things in each pic and it looks like you didn't need to, that you could get it in the pic-it's one thing if you mean to crop something out or just don't have the field of vision but I believe you might just need to be a little careful in composing your photo-

#3-this looks like it could be a great pic but I can't tell-
get closer and leave some dirt out of the pic (don't need all that foreground) and/or crop it out-

do as andy suggests and check out the tutorials on the bw conversions-

if you want some indepth comments and critiques post on the whipping post--everybody will tell you pretty much what they think; you might not like it but you'll definitely learn from it-

looks to me like you're doing good and I look forward to seeing a lot more photos from you-

best
george

System

cont'd-

looked at your gallery-

some of the additional space in a pic works--the ladies on the right half and the red wall on the left-

some of the cutting off of things or people works--the guy on the bike--

really liked the colorful store window and the fish was interesting-

would you post these four pics?-I think they're worth everyone getting a chance to look at--

there's so much to see here that most are not real excited about clicking on a link to look at pics so if you're pleased with a pic or want c&c, post it-


best
george

mwgrice

I'm jealous. Beijing has incredible opportunities for street photography. I spent two weeks there last summer and for all its flaws (and there are many) I'd return in a minute. That trip really helped renew my interest in photography.

Like George suggested, I would also like to see a little more care with composition. In these shots, you have a tendency to remove some things I would have liked you to have kept (the bottoms of the shovels in this shot, which otherwise works pretty well).

At the same time, I think you would also benefit from zooming in on the subjects. The fourth shot in the gallery is a good example. I think the shot would be more effective if you cropped some of the space on the left past the second shovel and above the men's head. Also, the shovel handle on the far right at the edge of the frame is a little distracting. This shot is another example. I think it would work better if you cropped out the tree and focused on the woman and the door (or even if you cropped out the woman and focused on the tree and the door).

I like the first shot in the gallery, except the guys right behind him are a bit distracting.

I love the thumbnail of this shot but for some reason the large version doesn't appeal to me as much. Perhaps it would work better for me if the water were darker. You could safely crop out the cars at the top of the frame, but the car just behind the bikes bothers me.

I love the location of this shot but you need to zoom in a bit more on the building and the person. This one and this one are more like it. However, I think they would be much more effective if you could see the woman's face. (This isn't always true--I think the shot of the storefront works quite well even though the couple is facing away from the camera.)

I ran into this web site the other say with some interesting thoughts on street photography. Frankly, I'm finding a lot of that to be true myself.

Finally, I'm curious as to where you took these. The shots by the bridge look familiar--is that a subway stop across the street?

Andy

OK this one is good - love the puff of smoke - and you obviously engaged with these guys! Excellent.



I dig this, too. I wish, the boy's legs weren't chopped off - not because chopping limbs is bad but because I want to know he's alright - and that he's got somewhere to go.

waveneyman

Hi samuel, checked out your gallery(s) and two things are obvious
You do a lot of travelling with some great opportunities for photography
and you've got some very nice pictures to your credit.
I'd be interested to know the source of the images? camera? - couldn't see the info so apologies if it is there.
I think Andy's advice is good. Gritty is good but over density is like a hole with nothing going on.
Specifically:
#1 I can see at least 3 really good crops and a further humerous crop in the bottom half, which is not bad for one shot:D . My favourite would be the four guys on the left to include the rh guy's feet. It interestingly changes the emphasis of the picture.
#2 I think you shot too soon and a lower viewpoint would lend context.
#3 I want to know what the guy at the wall is doing? is he working? demolishing? what's in the sack near him? Maybe use your feet to get closer and use the same wide angle for the shot; waiting 'til he turns to get the shot offers yet more. Many possibilities but you have the initial 'approach' shot.
#4 Again, many possibilities. Nice timing - he's looking straight at the viewer. I think I might have crouched down and photographed the boy against the new building on the left or the apartments on the right - one lends contrast whilst the other offers context As it is, for me there's too much space to the left.
#5 And again, many shots were possible here and I think you've fallen between them. A closer view of the sweatshirt might be one; the shadows on the ground another. I would be interested to know what is hanging into the picture upper right - does it contrast with the guys dress? is there someone watching him from the shadows?

Sorry, it sounds like I'm saying you missed the shots but it's not that. I'm sometimes aware only after the event too - we all miss shots because it's impossible to get them all. but I do think decisions have to be taken so you get in the optimum position for the type of photo you want rather than just "getting lucky". With some shots it's sometimes only the final composition/crop.

There's always loads happening streetwise - that's the fascination for me.
just my thoughts.

mark

asamuel

This has been a very useful excercise for me.
Thankyou all for your contributions.

Andy - I will take your advice and work harder at my BW conversions.

Gefillmore - I chose these because I thought they showed some of my reoccuring weaknesses. but thanks for asking me to post the other 4 (below).

Milgrice - thanks for the leads on Street photography and your help I will keep flipping from your comments to the pictures.

Also I dont own a zoom so I will just have to get in there.

Waveneyman - The pictures are around Yong He Gong (llama temple) where I presently live so they could be familiar.

My other galleries were taken with a Fujifinepix 5500: most travel stuff. then an olympus om 2 in some others when I was trying bw photography, a polaroid in others and in old travel pics a canon point and shoot plastic wonder. With deep regrets, In my infinate wisdom I believed I a) did not warrant b) could not afford a DSLR.
This gallery is the only one shot with a Canon 350D that I bought last month.

TO YOU ALL - I hear that I need to compose my shots more, maybe cool down and take my time. I want to its good to hear in what direction. Truth be Ive been struggling with my confidence in approach, these pictures are already a step forward in my involvement with street photography - but I want to move on. Changing persectives I need to work on and choosing what important (seeing it will be my first step ).

No body mentioned my exposures or my adoption of AWB, these both concern me, but you have been great.

In the future I will be sure to approach the whipping post. When I have the cahoonies! thanks again,










I dont like this last one, interesting you were drawn to it.

System

as far as I can tell, color balance and exposure ok-

the teddy bear thing was neat to me because of the colors and the shoppers looking-

suggested you post the bicyclist that's halfway in the pic; that's a neat one-

I believe you've got some nice photos; please keep on posting-

best
george