Prison or School?

[PhillipF]

Electric fencing, barred gates, all to keep pupils "safe".... Have our schools turned into prisons?

I've recently started with B&W photos, and would like to get some feedback on how to improve.


EXIF:

Camera: Canon EOS 450D
F-stop: f/5
Exposure: 1/400
ISO: 200
Exposure bias: 0step
focal length: 18mm
max aperture: 3.625
Metering mode: Pattern
Flash Mode: No Flash

[caamal_f]

Hi

The picture definitively has good idea. If I may make a commentary on the composition... Why don't you try to use one rod of the fence as your vertical line of the picture? I think this will help transmitting the feeling of being in front of a barrier and will improve the perspective of the shot.

Remember that the contrast achieved in a B&W shot, is totally related with the contrast of the each of the color layers. You can use the color contrast to make/avoid things to stand out. Here the sky a bit too bright.

Regads

[PhillipF]

Thank You.

I will see what I can do about that. Will try to darken the sky a bit and find a creative way to crop the photo.

[freezeframe03]

Lots of kids feel that school IS prison, so....

You must live in an extremely high risk area judging from these precautions. Or it's a school (facility) for holding juvenile delinquents.

I like your perspective but I'd like to see the ground a bit as well. To me this would give a greater impact of the situation. I also think more contrast to this b&w version is needed.

[PhillipF]

No, unfortunately that is a proper primary school (kids aged 6- 13). You might be shocked, but most schools in South Africa are required to be fenced in!! This is to restric access to the schools to keep unwanted elements out and also to keep the children in. We've had a lot of cases where drug dealers deal on school grounds as well as situations similiar to the Columbine (spelling?) shootings. Last year a guy killed a fellow pupil and injured some others using a katana replica, claiming that "demons told him to do so". there are also knives and guns on the school ground.....it's scary stuff!