Specials

[ronlane]

I think this is the best of the three runnah.

Thanks. I knew we'd get there as long as we all stuck together and stayed positive.

You and I were there all the time, just had to find the framing on the photo. I think this shows a story on it better. Others may not see it in the same way but that is the beauty of this.

 

[The_Traveler]

My opinion

When you take a 'street photo', you have to have the concept of what you want to show and what impression, exactly, you want the viewer to get and eye-grabbing things that don't contribute have to be minimized.

The viewer has to see what you are seeing, they might not understand everything but they definitely have to understand what to look at.
All the big pieces of the image have to fit and balance.
Extra stuff that pulls the eye or the mind just hurts it.

If I were taking this shot, I think I want to show emptiness, desolation, abandonment.
I would have the main item the closed sign with the sign showing what went on in the past as a secondary thing.
No people doing anything, that's activity. No cars, that's action.
No tree growing.
Fill the screen with what you want people to see

Zenfolio | Lew Lorton Photography | March for Life, Washington 2011 | 11-01-24life-_0796333

Zenfolio | Lew Lorton Photography | March for Life, Washington 2011 | 11-01-24life-_0796387

 

[Rick58]

Not to be negative, but I think my vote is still with #1. I don't need the information on the left side of the tree, and I don't need the front end of the car. I'd rather have ....BLAME....Mom changing the letters on a larger sign with enough store front to know it's a store front. To me anyway, nothing else adds to it. Just saying...

 

[Majeed Badizadegan]

There's kind of a silhouette person-dude in the window. Paint a creepy smiley face on it and I think we have a winner.

 

[runnah]

My opinion

When you take a 'street photo', you have to have the concept of what you want to show and what impression, exactly, you want the viewer to get and eye-grabbing things that don't contribute have to be minimized.

The viewer has to see what you are seeing, they might not understand everything but they definitely have to understand what to look at.
All the big pieces of the image have to fit and balance.
Extra stuff that pulls the eye or the mind just hurts it.

If I were taking this shot, I think I want to show emptiness, desolation, abandonment.
I would have the main item the closed sign with the sign showing what went on in the past as a secondary thing.
No people doing anything, that's activity. No cars, that's action.
No tree growing.
Fill the screen with what you want people to see

Zenfolio | Lew Lorton Photography | March for Life, Washington 2011 | 11-01-24life-_0796333

Zenfolio | Lew Lorton Photography | March for Life, Washington 2011 | 11-01-24life-_0796387

Well I agree and understand what you are saying my initial intention was not as you think. My intention was to show the whole scene and the woman being just a part of it. I felt like the activity was the key point. The additional elements, the two signs, the run down building were more of enhancements.

They town isn't dead but it is on life support and doing things like offering free meals to the hungry is this woman's way of helping.

I do respect your opinion and wish I could get shots like you posted. I will heed your advice and apply it to the next time I am out and about.

 

[runnah]

Not to be negative, but I think my vote is still with #1. I don't need the information on the left side of the tree, and I don't need the front end of the car. I'd rather have ....BLAME....Mom changing the letters on a larger sign with enough store front to know it's a store front. To me anyway, nothing else adds to it. Just saying...

Yeah, I regret not getting closer (had to cross a super busy road). I think the concept is/was there but the execution left alot to be desired.

 

[Studio7Four]

Of the three, I prefer the original crop as it best emphasizes the only action in the shot, the woman changing the sign. If you were not intending the woman and sign to be the focal point of the image you would be served to reshoot it without her there at all. And if you do reshoot it with the intent to make it a commentary about the poverty in your area, think very hard about your shooting angle and composition. You almost had me buying the poverty story until I saw the wider angle shots - and realized that the building says "Island Dairy Treat". It may very well be permanently shuttered, but in a shot with a woman in a heavy coat and snow on the ground, my first assumption is that this is a seasonal business closed for the winter.

 

[The_Traveler]

I .... wish I could get shots like you posted.

Runnah,

There's no secret.
I think, most good street shots that aren't in the action-happened-while-I-was-there category are the product first of knowing what you want to show and then working at making that really, really clear.
Actually doing that takes an enormous amount of work.

The process is:
1) Take lots of pictures, decide which one is best and then figure out why and try to aply that knowledge to your next shoots.
2) Repeat 1) for the rest of your life.

If I have a day with 2 or 3 good shots, that's terrific.
I can go weeks between keepers that I'd show.

I took probably 30 or 40 pictures in 3 minutes to get this one shot and dumped the rest.

Zenfolio | Lew Lorton Photography | Random Street Shots | Photo 37

I took probably 350 in two hours of this basketball game and dumped all but 3

Zenfolio | Lew Lorton Photography | Random Street Shots | Photo 1


Keep on working.

 

[jenko]

I definitely prefer the last crop.

As to the image itself, I am somewhere in the middle. I do think there is more substance to the scene than just a person changing a sign.

However, what is lacking for me is a feeling of attachment to the scene. The photo looks as if it was taken from across the street, even when the street is cropped out.

I wonder what would have happened if you walked up to her, asked her about this place and what she does? Maybe tried for a more direct shot with her permission? May lead to something more interesting ...

Hope that helps!