Another attempt at street

[pentahedron]

ISO: 400
Aperture: 8
Shutter Speed: 1/13

So I went out again yesterday to practice street since the my biggest vice is shyness when it comes to photographing people and I came across this DJ having fun on the sidewalk. It's not the best composed shot I could have taken since I was still overcoming my shyness to take stranger shots(yesterday helped dramatically though), but I happen to like the emotion captured in this particular photograph and was wondering if there is anything I can do to save it and what I can do next time to frame a street shot better. I thought about cropping the top part or the right side off, but I feel like it would violate the rule of thirds and center the subject too much. I'm also considering monochrome so the viewer focuses mainly on him.

Opinions?

[Elmo]

You present one problem street shooters have in getting acceptance, composition. Street compositions do not necessarily fall into the guidelines specified for pictorial photography. Street is story telling not pictorial. Most pictorialist say street images are only snapshots.

as for help try shooting wider. Get close to the subject, to keep him the center of interest, but include other balancing items to complete the story.

All that said, not a bad start, not bad at all. Better that lots of mine and I had a great teacher, Robert Franks. My problem I go into pictorial photography for acceptance and forgot most of what I learned about shooting street. Now I shoot for me not others (except for my blog which is for my kids. Elmo on Photography

[pentahedron]

Ahh I see. I have another one from a different area that I like better and will probably put that on my flickr later. Next time I'll have to work on my framing, but i'll probably use my old blog to start keeping track of my progress and use that image since I really like it though it isn't pleasing composition wise.

Thanks, btw I looked at your blog.

[RichardTaylor]

+1 one on the getting closer comment.

I would crop a lot off the left hand side, out taking out the left hand window. Try it and see how you feel about it.

A very good start.

[pentahedron]

Thanks. I'll try it out. I have two more photos that I like, but it's one photo per thread >_<

[Chip]

Personally, I'd keep the window on the left. Knowing that this is a record (am I dating myself?) gives context to what this guy might be doing out front. Without that window, he may look quite out of place.

Great light (as always) makes for interesting photos, too.

Agree that getting closer and wider can help. Easier said than done, though, in my experience. But I've also seen some interesting photos taken from a distance, with tiny figures, that work for some reason. No hard and fast rules, I suppose.

Here's a link to the Hardcore Street Photography Group on flickr. These people take their stuff very seriously . . . not that I often understand their aesthetic, but it might be a place to pick up some pointers.

I like the eye contact. And I agree that you did well.

Chip

[pentahedron]

Originally Posted by Chip

Personally, I'd keep the window on the left. Knowing that this is a record (am I dating myself?) gives context to what this guy might be doing out front. Without that window, he may look quite out of place.

Great light (as always) makes for interesting photos, too.

Agree that getting closer and wider can help. Easier said than done, though, in my experience. But I've also seen some interesting photos taken from a distance, with tiny figures, that work for some reason. No hard and fast rules, I suppose.

Here's a link to the Hardcore Street Photography Group on flickr. These people take their stuff very seriously . . . not that I often understand their aesthetic, but it might be a place to pick up some pointers.

I like the eye contact. And I agree that you did well.

Chip

Thanks. How should I expose for B&W?I have another photo that has a lot of colors in it that would detract the viewer from what's going on, but I've never really learned about exposing for b&w.

Thanks for the group link btw, they seem to be really serious and put quality control on what goes into the pool


Mods: Is it okay if I attach the other 2-3 images I want to show in this thread?