Youngster Selling Chips at Night Market

[CameraLance]

An attempt at shooting Street Photography at my local night market. I edited the picture by adding Gaussian Blur in the background because the guy in blue was in focus as my main focus is at the guy in red. My concern is, does this picture tells you it is a street photograph? Does it gives you an idea that the youngster is selling chips to earn to money for a living? My most important question is, What does the picture makes you feel when you first look at it?



EXIF:
Canon EOS 1000D
Lens - Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS
ISO - 1600
Aperture - f5
Shutter Speed - 1/50
Focal Length - 37mm

Feel free to comment or critique!

p/s: This is my first time creating a thread in this forum so if there is anything wrong with my posting, please let me know. Thanks!

[dcclark]

Welcome! Looks like you followed the forum rules perfectly.

First, yes, I can definitely tell that this is a street shot -- the lights, the blurred people, the whole layout of the table says "street vendor" to me.

I still find the fellow in blue (in the background) to be pretty distracting. I notice the boy doing the serving, and then my eye goes straight to the boy in blue -- because he's between the two main things you were catching (the boy in red, and the things he's selling). So unfortunately, that still is a problem.

Otherwise, I think this shot is awfully dark -- I do like the partial silhouette of the boy in red, but the background is much brighter and more distracting. If you could have somehow isolated him from the background -- recomposed to have a darker background for example -- that might have helped.

Those are just my first impressions. I think it's a neat action shot -- and I like how the light hilights the boy in red -- but there are a lot of distractions here.

[Chip]

I looked at the photo before I read your description. And, unfortunately, my initial thought was that the boy in red was serving himself, not working or serving others. Maybe if one of his customers could be in the shot, just on the other side of the table, the impact might be different?

I do like your shot.

[archersdad]

I like it too but I think a bit of front flash would darken the background enough to keep the boy in blue from being so distracting.

[CameraLance]

Thanks guys! Really appreciate your comments

dcclark, I get your point and thought maybe I should desaturate the background & guy in blue and increase the gaussian blur but nah! I'll keep it that way as a reminder in the future.

Chip, yeah, I only realized that it would be better to include his customers in the shot when I viewed it on my computer. But if I do so, there will be more colourful distractions

archersdad, I rarely use flash for my street shots as it spoils the atmosphere and for my own safety as well XD

[crystal renee]

I really loved the shot upon first glance and second glance too!
You know, street shots have people in them, and lots going on too!
Street Photography is supposed to be "real", I liked the darkness of the photograph, because of the colors, its really not a negative in this photo.
The person in blue looks like a customer, I think its fine the way it is...looks like a journalistic photo.
I can agree with the other comments, but perfection isnt necessary just because you CAN.
Sometimes you shouldnt you know?
But thats just me, I think its excellent!