Graffiti Artists C&C -- And I need advice on how to compose a shot

[Foxx]

Hej all,

I was walking around campus today and had the exquisite opportunity to catch some graffiti artists at work. It was incredible to watch them spray, and they even let me take a few shots. C&C please


#1

#2

#3

And I also have an idea for a shot. I attempted it today with a friend of mine but it didn't come out the way I wanted...

I want the shot to be wider, but I want her to "pop" out in the crowd as well. Where should I place her and how should I frame the shot so that you can feel the depth of the platform but also be drawn to her "definiteness" in the crowd?

As always, thanks for the input. I appreciate it!

 

[analog.universe]

I like that first shot a lot!

For the last one, I would get a little closer to the ground, as that tends to make a scene feel a little deeper. Using a wider angle lens will help as well (not sure what kind of equipment you have). Shooting wide angle exaggerates near to far relationships by giving the perception that the background is farther away. Shooting the lens aperture wide open will also create contrast between the focus plane and the background. (Although it looks like maybe you had to stop down to get the slow shutter effect? ND filter would solve that if that's the case...)

 

[DiskoJoe]

I like number one. cool shot. for the one for your friend, you will get a better DOF if you open the aperture up as high as you can go. I would say 2.8 or wider. Plus you need to place her where there is more distance behind the shot. Like shot down the street instead of into the street.

like this......

hat guy by DiskoJoe, on Flickr

 

[Foxx]

Thanks for the advice guys! Unfortunately I don't have a wide angle lens...

I will try the shot with a larger aperture next time, but there's a problem with that. The whole point of the shot is to show my subject still while the crowd(and hopefully bus) is moving around her. I want to emphasize the busyness of the platform. If I shoot with a wide aperture it will be overexposed...maybe I should try this later at night? I don't know how well I will be able to capture the "crowd" if I do that though. Can I achieve the same effect using the flash somehow?

@diskjoe - I will also try shooting down the platform, though I don't know if this will capture the crowd the way I am imagining it. And yeah really wish I had an ND filter right now D:

 

[bazooka]

It's impossible to know what you had envisioned, but I'll provide some ideas to try to improve on what you have already. Maybe one of these will be the ticket, or maybe what you need has already been posted.

Maybe you could try to have some people moving in front of her as well... this will give more depth.

Analog suggest a wider angle, you might also try a longer FL, but this will require you to get further away. The outcome will be that the scene will appear more crowded, particularly if you have people stacked in front of her as well as behind her. The sizes of the people will be very similar. The faces, although now unrecognizable because of motion blur, will also be more out of focus, making them that much more 'separated' from her.

Try, as you considered, to shoot later in the day but put her in some localized light. (In front of a lit storefront, or some other low-angle light.) That will 'burn' her image in while the people moving in and out of the light around her will be less exposed while she is properly exposed. This will create separation.

Just some ideas. I think your first try at this is a good start.

 

[MissCream]

For the last one take two different shots, one of just her and one of just the crowd with a longer shutter speed then blend them in post.

 

[DiskoJoe]

Thanks for the advice guys! Unfortunately I don't have a wide angle lens...

I will try the shot with a larger aperture next time, but there's a problem with that. The whole point of the shot is to show my subject still while the crowd(and hopefully bus) is moving around her. I want to emphasize the busyness of the platform. If I shoot with a wide aperture it will be overexposed...maybe I should try this later at night? I don't know how well I will be able to capture the "crowd" if I do that though. Can I achieve the same effect using the flash somehow?

@diskjoe - I will also try shooting down the platform, though I don't know if this will capture the crowd the way I am imagining it. And yeah really wish I had an ND filter right now D:

it wont capture the crowd the way you want but you might like it anyway. if you keep it around f4 you may be able to get the best of both worlds. But shooting a little later at night would help the effect of the blurred motion.

 

[Foxx]

For the last one take two different shots, one of just her and one of just the crowd with a longer shutter speed then blend them in post.

I didn't think of this..there is a just big billoard that is light up with the bus times almost right next to her. I will try use to that!

@misscream -- Also a good idea, I will try this! Thanks for the advice guys