Please aware me of photography knowledge (C+C welcome)

[Firebolt]

Well this is the first time really doing post-processing on my picture. Just starting out but I really like street photography. Just capturing everyday life for one person but a whole different world for another. Any feedback is appreciated. Don't feel bad ripping it apart if it's terrible.

This was before I started reading articles so I know now that shooting at 1.8 isn't good for street.

Final colour edit:


Original

Black and white for fun

 

[The_Traveler]

Welcome to TPF


typically 'street photography'will pick out an interesting, moving or unusual situation that the viewer may not have noticed and present it to the viewer to see.

This is a picture of a man on a bicycle talking on the mobile phone and it's not clear what you want us to see and why you thought this was interesting enough to shoot.

You shot this at f1.8, 1/5000 and iso 100
You have good focus and, because of the large aperture, everything behind the rider is OOF, that's good.
The danger of 1.8 on a moving target is that the depth of field is very shallow and its easy to miss focus.
You shot at a very high shutter speed which froze the person but also froze the bicycle spokes and removes the impact of motion. A slower shutter speed will show some spoke blurring and increase the perception of motion.

The cyclist is directly in the middle of the shot, generally not the best place to put the center of interest. Generally, and specifically if the center of interest is moving, the center of itnerest should be moving into the greater space
And there is lots of room around him, which doesn't do anything to contribute.

Your BW rendition was fine, even good. I suggest removing those white dots that look like defects and attract the viewers' eye.

 

[Designer]

I like the image quality and color in your edit version, but I think it would be improved with a crop. As you see, I cropped out the car on the left side.

 

[Firebolt]

Welcome to TPF


typically 'street photography'will pick out an interesting, moving or unusual situation that the viewer may not have noticed and present it to the viewer to see.

This is a picture of a man on a bicycle talking on the mobile phone and it's not clear what you want us to see and why you thought this was interesting enough to shoot.

You shot this at f1.8, 1/5000 and iso 100
You have good focus and, because of the large aperture, everything behind the rider is OOF, that's good.
The danger of 1.8 on a moving target is that the depth of field is very shallow and its easy to miss focus.
You shot at a very high shutter speed which froze the person but also froze the bicycle spokes and removes the impact of motion. A slower shutter speed will show some spoke blurring and increase the perception of motion.

The cyclist is directly in the middle of the shot, generally not the best place to put the center of interest. Generally, and specifically if the center of interest is moving, the center of itnerest should be moving into the greater space
And there is lots of room around him, which doesn't do anything to contribute.

Your BW rendition was fine, even good. I suggest removing those white dots that look like defects and attract the viewers' eye.

I like the image quality and color in your edit version, but I think it would be improved with a crop. As you see, I cropped out the car on the left side.

I definitely take these tips into consideration next time I shoot. I want to find something with more background context so it gives the viewer more perspective of the shot.

 

[sashbar]

I offer this edit because here you can use at least some of the background that can balance the biker a bit. A couple of pedestrians, orange road lines, the white car, the blue poster... Look beyond your main subject, he has to be put or justaposed agains something in terms of contrast and balance and dynamic tention. The biker does not always need to ride into an open space, you may leave the space behind, sometimes it is more preferable, as I believe is the case here. You need to understand why you are doing it, not just because there is "rule". You put him off center to create movement and the line of sight, how you do it - is up to you. If you put this guy on the left 1/3, as suggested above, what you see in the background - the white fence? Road markings disappear, those yellow things on the road disappear. What is left - just the biker with an empty space and the centered white bus that becomes really annoying? The white fence breaks the vertical 1/3s composition, blending with the roadd and making this space occupying much more than 2/3. And here i do not like it. And btw the guy is moving towards the bottom frame, not into empty space in front of him. Just my 2 p. You may have different tastes. Good luck with your shooting, you will need it on the street

 

[Firebolt]

I offer this edit because here you can use at least some of the background that can balance the biker a bit. A couple of pedestrians, orange road lines, the white car, the blue poster... Look beyond your main subject, he has to be put or justaposed agains something in terms of contrast and balance and dynamic tention. The biker does not always need to ride into an open space, you may leave the space behind, sometimes it is more preferable, as I believe is the case here. You need to understand why you are doing it, not just because there is "rule". You put him off center to create movement and the line of sight, how you do it - is up to you. If you put this guy on the left 1/3, as suggested above, what you see in the background - the white fence? Road markings disappear, those yellow things on the road disappear. What is left - just the biker with an empty space and the centered white bus that becomes really annoying? The white fence breaks the vertical 1/3s composition, blending with the roadd and making this space occupying much more than 2/3. And here i do not like it. And btw the guy is moving towards the bottom frame, not into empty space in front of him. Just my 2 p. You may have different tastes. Good luck with your shooting, you will need it on the street

Thanks! That was what I was thinking too. Cropping too close to the subject loses all context of background as well as the lines that lead the eyes to different parts of the photo. However I understand the other posters too because if I put the ride on the right, straight away my eyes are led out of the photograph and it's hard to focus on what's behind. The pedestrians do help a little in drawing my eyes back but it's too insignificant to make someone usually take a second look.

I enjoy both edits as they give a different perspective on the photo. I'll use this knowledge to frame my future shots.

 

[sashbar]

I offer this edit because here you can use at least some of the background that can balance the biker a bit. A couple of pedestrians, orange road lines, the white car, the blue poster... Look beyond your main subject, he has to be put or justaposed agains something in terms of contrast and balance and dynamic tention. The biker does not always need to ride into an open space, you may leave the space behind, sometimes it is more preferable, as I believe is the case here. You need to understand why you are doing it, not just because there is "rule". You put him off center to create movement and the line of sight, how you do it - is up to you. If you put this guy on the left 1/3, as suggested above, what you see in the background - the white fence? Road markings disappear, those yellow things on the road disappear. What is left - just the biker with an empty space and the centered white bus that becomes really annoying? The white fence breaks the vertical 1/3s composition, blending with the roadd and making this space occupying much more than 2/3. And here i do not like it. And btw the guy is moving towards the bottom frame, not into empty space in front of him. Just my 2 p. You may have different tastes. Good luck with your shooting, you will need it on the street

Thanks! That was what I was thinking too. Cropping too close to the subject loses all context of background as well as the lines that lead the eyes to different parts of the photo. However I understand the other posters too because if I put the ride on the right, straight away my eyes are led out of the photograph and it's hard to focus on what's behind. The pedestrians do help a little in drawing my eyes back but it's too insignificant to make someone usually take a second look.

I enjoy both edits as they give a different perspective on the photo. I'll use this knowledge to frame my future shots.

Of course, other edits are fine as well, I just tried to give you the critical thought process behind the one I personally would prefer. It is all very personal. You can compose it with one strong main subject in mind and as little distraction as possible, or you can frame it differently so that the eye wanders around various lines of sight watching the street. Ultimately it often depends on the subject. Is it (he/she) interesting enough? Here I feel that the cyclist needs to be supported by some stuff here, some little dynamic tension (see the white car and the cyclist go in opposite directions), the geometric lines of road marking that cross the frame - little things like that may make or break your image.

 

[Firebolt]

Of course, other edits are fine as well, I just tried to give you the critical thought process behind the one I personally would prefer. It is all very personal. You can compose it with one strong main subject in mind and as little distraction as possible, or you can frame it differently so that the eye wanders around various lines of sight watching the street. Ultimately it often depends on the subject. Is it (he/she) interesting enough? Here I feel that the cyclist needs to be supported by some stuff here, some little dynamic tension (see the white car and the cyclist go in opposite directions), the geometric lines of road marking that cross the frame - little things like that may make or break your image.

Yep, I see where you're coming from. Didn't even notice the car and rider facing opposite directions. Now it seems very noticeable. Great feedback from everyone.

 

[DiskoJoe]

I like the image quality and color in your edit version, but I think it would be improved with a crop. As you see, I cropped out the car on the left side.

View attachment 61885

Something like this would be nice. Maybe not this tight a crop but something where he is off center. I really like the color shot. BW is good too but i like the color better.

 

[Rags]

Lew covered most of the bases and some other good comments.

When your subject is in motion, the convention is to leave more space in front of rather than behind

A subject going this slow should be probably shot at SS60-80. Mid day thats hard but reduce the EV if you can or follow him (with cam) into some shade.

Then you have to follow (pan) your subject. At this SS you will get motion behind (instead of bokeh) and blurred spokes, which adds to the perception of motion

Your choice of subject was not an easy one

Good luck in your shooting

Rags

 

[skieur]

I would have tried shooting at 1/60 sec. and panning the camera with the bicyclist to get the motion idea in there.