Street Photography/social Documentary

[philip_litke]

I have posted a few of these ob my flickr page. It seems the ones I like no one else does, and one's I don't rally care for . . .

for instance this one, I like it, others do not. what is wrong with this one

[spazoid1965]

What is the main subject in this photo? My eyes are drawn to the leaning sign for a credit card company.

[xysmas]

I feel like there is a lack of focus in the image. There is some odd distortion effect at work, lack of exposure for a the person standing in the background, and there doesn't seem to be a story to tell with the photo. I'm not sure what you were going for in the picture, and I think that is the problem.

[demonsmercy]

I hate capital one, but the picture is a good picture.

[sdjl]

I find the image is distracting. The main point of focus appears to be the advert on the bus stop and the angle that it's at, makes it look funny.
If you were trying to get an image of the girl leaning into the bus stop, you could have tried panning your camera to the left and put her in the right hand side of the frame.

[Nai no Kami]

If the person leaning on the bus stop is a homeless/beggar/poor person, the photo is quite interesting to me. There is a nice contrast: between a non wealthy person and the ad of a credit card; the slogan at the bottom also reads "what's in your wallet?". And, to complete things, you can see the person with his/her hand on his/her face, giving a worrying look.

I like the idea that the main subject on the photo is not apparent and what stands out a priori is precisely a symbol of wealth, like implying that these street people are subdued by other "most important" things.
All of this is valid if the person is indeed a homeless, beggar, etc., of course.

The only thing I would have technically done is to blur the background a little in order to make the two opposing subjects in the photo stand more out. By doing this I suppose the sign would be blurred also in the process, so I'm not saying this should have been done (I would have tried).

[philip_litke]

thanks - that helps a lot - I guess what I was going for in the original shot was the juxtaposition of the woman (not sure where she lived but I suspect we were very close to it) and the sign and how oblivious people apparently were as they wer walking by her. though it was far to busy so I cropped it down - but it is still apparently to unorganized (as was the attempt at coversation I had with her)

thanks again

[jiminyClickit]

philip_litke, Welcome

It's a feat just to stand there and photograph someone, kudos for having that courage. Look around some here, other forums, read the comments, it will soon occur to you why people see things the way they do, how to tell a story in a way clearer to more people, and if necessary how to edit into an even stronger look.

You might bravely ask how others would be made comfortable when approached by a person who has just taken their photo. A good opening statement might have engaged this woman (difficult to know). Something else to experiment with. Also learn when to walk away.