Sound of the Streets
by Pipe_Dream

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club.

This is a strong image, and has rightly placed well in the challenge. You have broken with the B&W tradition of street photography, and I feel that was a wise decision - the colour gives this a real sense of vibrancy which suits the scene well. Your choice of depth of field is spot on, isolating the drummer whilst keeping the background sufficiently identifiable to provide context and complete the 'story'. And it is the 'story' that makes this photo such a success - the strange collection of implements the busker has gathered together, the shoppers passing with their bags and clear material wealth which all combine to provide a compelling narrative, and encourage the viewer to stay longer.

There are only a couple of things that detract for me: there is a softness of focus on the face of the drummer, most noticable on his forehead; as identified by another commenter, the bright yellow blob is somewhat distracting; and the image is a tad over-sharpened for my tastes.

My overall impression is of a well considered photograph thta delivers what the photographer intended. It is one I would have been proud to have captured.

If you any questions about this critique, please feel free to PM me. regards, Sara.

Alter Ego
by andrewt

Comment:
Wonderful!

Two by Light
by SandyP

Comment:
Love it!

I CAN read this
by jnenvir

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club.

I'm sure that this photo didn't score as well as you had hoped - I shall try and give you my views on what it was thta missed the mark, and some pointers that may help you when shooting 'Street' genre photos in the future. Any comments I make are based on my own subjective opinion!

The challenge this photo was entered in was 'Street Photography', which is a very specific genre in its own right, with strong traditions, and a number of notable masters (with Cartier-Bresson being perhaps the most famous). This photo doesn't really fit with those traditions and conventions - it isn't (at least apparantly) set in a public place, doesn't clearly articulate a story, and it isn't highlighting some observed quirkiness; to break with pre-conceived notions of what a specific type of photography or art is about is not in itself is not a bad thing, but to do it effectively it must be done particularly well.

On a technical level, the focus is a little soft, but the exposure is good (maybe a tad under-exposed, but nothing marked) with good detail in the white of the t-shirt, although the shadows, particularly the hair, are too deep, with little detail revealed. You may want to look at exploring different methods of black and white conversion - using the Channel Mixer in Photoshop CS gives a great deal of control, although you don't state what software you use, so that advice may not be helpful to you.

For me, the main problem with the photograph lies with the subject itself. As a viewer I have no sense of connection with the subject - he is looking away, apparantly at a computer monitor. Perhaps if you had positioned yourself so that the viewer could also see what the subject was looking at it might have provided more interaction. It may also have been better to include more context by using looser framing, including more background. It strikes me that you have simply not been bold enough - street photography and candids do take a certain amount of 'courage' (not the right word, but hopefully you will know what I mean) and many of the best are taken with realtively short focal lengths, with the photographer getting down into the scene physically. Next time, perhaps leave your telephoto zoom at home and try using a maximum focal length of 100mm - it can you leave feeling a little exposed at first, but once you get used to it can become rather fun!

If you have any questions about this critique, please feel free to send me a PM.

"Doc- It Hurts When I Do This..."
by jrjr

Comment:
A really good photo, but why did you put that border on - I am sure it would look much better without.

getting across
by posthumous

Comment:

Cheers from the Critique Club:

Normally I would break down my critique to a review of the technicals, and then a more subjective peice on the impact the photo has on me. This genre of photography, to me though, lends itself more to the latter response rather than looking at the technicals of how the end result was achieved.

So, what works for me? The viewpoint and composition give the viewer a feeling of being alone with just the subject, although seperated from them, both by virtue of having been taking from the comfort of the dry car, by the grainyness, and by the shield of the rain. The rain is as important an element as the sodden running woman, and is very well portrayed. The two lines on the pavement act as a track, and increase the sense of her running through the downpour.

What doesn't work so well? You stated that you are not happy with the composition, and it probably is the relative dullness of the background that contributes to the middle-of-the-pack score (combined, of course, with voters who want everything crystal sharp regardless of genre, intent etc...). One of the comments below remarks on how the Open sign should somehow be more integral to the image, and I would have to agree. As it is, it is just there, yes it draws your attention to the fact that despite available shelter she still chooses to run in the rain, and yes it provides juxtaposition of sorts, but it just doesn't somehow come together in a completely succesfull way.

I am not sure I have been particularly articulate here - at the end of the day it is a photo that I have enjoyed looking at in detail, but not one that engages me as fully as I wish it did.

If you wish to raise any questions - or to disagree with me - do send me a PM.

regards,

Sara.

Edit: There was something about this photo that made me somewhat uncomfortable - I have just realised what it is. The pose of the running woman is a side-on version of the same pose of the running girl fleeing from My Lai, right down to the position of her hand. That I even made that connection makes me uncomfortable, because there is no sense in your photo of someone escaping from horrors unbearable. Strange.

Message edited by author 2008-11-05 08:48:59.

sinking...
by IreneM

Comment:
Congrats on another blue - didn't look at this challenge in voting, but this is a pretty impressive photo! I am glad you completed the photographer's comments box - it makes it all the more interesting.

Frond
by MaryO

Comment:
Certainly an interesting plant, and th eleaf looks good against the black. The composition is ight for the image, although I might prefer less drop off in focus.

Swamp Sparrow at sunset
by vencap

Comment:
A lovely study.

Empty room
by Mephisto

Comment:
A decent enough record shot - can't fault the symmetry or the tonal range of the mono conversion, but at the end of the day the subject just doesn't engage.