Ol' skool!!!

ok, break the ice
in 2015 I moved out of Amsterdam and now I am looking back to edit a short serie (of 15-20?).
Some pictures are already in, some unexpectedly went out (aged bad), some I'd like an opinion and will be posting here.
Here is one

I like the distribution of elements around the frame
RHS is why I like it
LHS is somehow bothering, maybe is the cropped guy, but feels unbalanced. Any opinion?
Thanks in advance

the LHS could be helped with a little dodging. I think the whole frame could be brightened a bit; as is it's kind of muddy.

Despite the placements of elements which I'd agree isn't bad and a little pattern made by handle bars and bannister rail, it's on the whole just not interesting. Nothing's actually going on.There's no rewards for taking a long look at those nicely placed elements.

I like this moment. Framing is simple but probably for the best in the situation. I have gripes with the white balance though. I feel correcting that with some harder contrast (while probably having to bring up some shadows) would do favours for its impact. If not then this might even be best b&w!

I wouldn't mess with the contrast, and correcting color thru a white balance isn't the way I'd do it - I'd try whacking it with some color filter like 10% of a cooling filter #80 or 82. (this is what comes of comes from learning using an enlarger)

I mentioned liking this image before, one of the better examples of the 'praying toward Mecca' trope.

Either way, make it less yellow.

Quite an emotive image! The colour doesn't worry me (but I've got protanopia, ie no red colour receptors in my eyes, so take that with a grain of salt).

I suspect trying to correct for white balance would be tricky due to likely differences in the colour temp of the window lights compared to the st lights.

Wow, the old format thread returned, it's cool )

Claire, I can be wrong of course, but for me the picture could be a bit better if you had chosen lower point of view. Attention in that case could be moved from the girl to the woman who is praying.

Sixft Whiterabbit:
true. I'd like to print it and try to improve some contrast/brightness.
Dr.Fuzz:see your point. agree is just a mundane scene (although it could fit in a mundane serie :P). Overall a picture that could result more interesting in 50 years from now, but now is not.
thanks to both.

I like the composition in this one, though i'm not sure if that's enough to make it good. Any thoughts?

I like it. I'd bet it's not HSCP but I like it.

So simple yet keeps my attention. Nice angles, textures and light! :)

Felipe M. Cruz:
Pleasant colors, but I'm not sure about composition. I think it could be better if you placed the man at the start of escalator. In that case the diagonal could be more readable. And perhaps the nearest right corner needs some dodging.

Dr.Fuzz:

That was the thing that had me having second thoughts about this photo. I mean, i know it wouldn't ever be on the group's stream, but i just wish i could get a better grasp on the actual definition of "street photography" (the kind that makes it to the stream)

_wintermute:
Thanks, really appreciate it! (;


maksim_milykh:

yeah, that would definitely help with the composition. Such a pitty that stuff happens so fast in the streets...

"but i just wish i could get a better grasp on the actual definition of "street photography" (the kind that makes it to the stream)"

Me too!

from the admins:
"The reason why it's so hard for us to tell you why we keep or delete a photo from the pool is because we don't have a quantified set of rules. It's just a feeling that we have."

So it is subjective. I think you need to get into the mindset of the admods, this may not be something you can do (there were some hints in the previous critique thread with references to punk rock). Something that is interesting to them, may not be to us, and vice versa. Take the latest entry in the pool. The squirrel. I'm at a loss as to what makes that pool worthy. I've tried to get it, but I don't. I've actually contemplated that they added it for no other reason than so people would say WTF :) maybe I'm a heathen for saying this but I really don't see what makes it "special".

Felipe M. Cruz:

I think this is really just a variation of "person walks past a wall" and really doesn't offer me, as the viewer, much to feast upon - your sole subject shows as much interest as I have in looking at it. To make a set piece like an escalator work, you really need to be bringing more elements into the picture (angles, interaction, gestures, expression, etc) to make it worth looking at.

Here's some different examples from Tavepong and Whirrdz that make escalators work.

www.flickr.com/photos/tavepong/21252247366/in/dateposted/

Chris, the 2nd link is giving a 404. I think (for me) the first is a good example of getting into the mindset. I much prefer the simplicity of Felipe's image to the chaos of Tavepongs. Tavepongs is also a good example of how it is ok to break some "rules". One of the common criticisms I've seen from browsing the critique threads is that there is too much distracting, but in this case (perhaps when extreme) it's ok....

I think one thing to be wary of with the critiques is that whilst some may be universal in nature (which is most probably true of my images :D ) , some may also be much more specific to this genre and perhaps even specifically this group.

I love streetphotography, appreciate any comments for below photo I took last year. Thanks!

Jean Banja: It's nice, but I find myself wondering how it would have looked from a higher vantagepoint. The best parts are scattered on the edges of the frame, while the middle suffers from some rather empty chaos. It could have been a nice scene, but nothing in the frame presents itself as a landing point for the eye.

clairebrinberg: The impression that she is praying to the street thing is superficially interesting, and all the elements of a potentially telling scene...but I get strong invasive vibe from this shot. The less-than-stellar framing (everyone's too high) and the sense of blur give me the impression that you didn't feel comfortable taking this shot even though it is part of a protest. It's not a useful vibe.

Felipe M. Cruz: I kind of like this...sure, it's not eventful and you see this kind of shot a lot, probably too much as the lines of escalators are attractive to people looking for simple compositions, but I wouldn't have put the fellow higher up or dodged the bottom. As it is, his head is nicely framed in the in-frame frame; it looks a bit like he's descending into darkness and resigned to it. It's not great, but it's not a bad effort. Keep at it.

brianzhou77: That hand is just as powerless to lift that huge thing as it is to support this huge, empty, featureless, awkward composition.

Ah yes, thanks for pointing that out... I worked out that it's not set as public.

Dimitriy, the light is just not doing it for me in this. I've looked at it on my phone (which has a good screen) and on my laptop which has a bad screen, but neither is working. I suspect even on my good monitor it is going to look too dark and too flat.

There is a lot of light grey in it which I guess is what makes a challenge for getting a good exposure. I also (which probably goes against what others will say) think it would be better if you were a bit further back.

The building is the main focus of this image but it is truncated on the left side and feels like it almost could have been there in it's entirety (in the horizontal plane).

edit: just checked it on my good monitor and it is better (not so flat). I'm still swinging between whether it should be darker or lighter though.

Tony.

Chris.Hoy:

Thanks for the heads-up, Chris. I have another escalator shot on my stream, with a bit of a more elaborated composition. Would you mind having a look? T

Antonio_Trogu:

Wondering what part of this scene you found interesting. If the red suit, and the tanned skin - better to get in close and do a detail of that. As it is, the shadows on the faces really hurt. Also, this is my own preference here but that horizon being wonky doesn't help this shot at all.

Antonio_Trogu:

Two ladies and a hat sit on a rock by the sea.
Felipe M. Cruz's question is indeed very pertinent.

Dr.Fuzz
Sixft Whiterabbit
_wintermute
maksim_milykh
Poagao

Thanks everyone! Appreciate the feedback.

Dmitriy Beketov:
_wintermute:

Lightening or darkening isn't going to help the fact that you
1: chose this building for a subject.
2: chose this angle and cut part of its crucial contour off in spite of this.
3: fell prey to trying to jazz it up with a random silhouette that neither compliments the composition nor boasts its own interest.

Antonio_Trogu:
The frame's too tight, clipping both hats you seem to want to make a point of. The hat on the wall is so pastel and tucked in the corner that it takes a second look to realise you've seen a colour match. The rest of that LHS is just dead space and puts the whole composition off balance. That's it's biggest issue for me. Especially when it's there at the sacrifice of squashing the RHS. When you've only got two subjects, i feel you need to fill the frame with them or let them breathe on their own. This is a gobbled together in between. If either had been done we might be discussing the coincidences, shapes and lines. Then the overlaps. Angles can be worked to give them space. Steps can be taken to tighten.


daily-life.photography:
"Say what you see" isn't a critique!


talatAhm:
With their clothing quite close in hues to the whole background I end up picking out the little slaps of red before i look at them to find they're having a remarkable amount of fun in this earthquake that's caused a jaunty angle, getting right in the way of their 4th friend as they do. And he looks like he might actually want to be in the photo!
Smacks of hip and/or rushed shooting. Bland centred cluster composition isn't going to make them any more interesting and i think that's the essence; they were never interesting in the first place.

Mike_McCawley:
I see all those little interests that make you keep it but unfortunately that tent going into his eye puts me off. Makes it a little uncomfortable to study. Got a lot of line ups etc going otherwise. I think it's just a victim of its own success!

Dr.Fuzz:
You are right. I actually meant to add "End of story" but somehow forgot to type it and didn't notice it... Quite frankly that's what I felt when I looked at it and that's why a said the question asked by Mike (which I also notice now I misnamed as Felipe) was very pertinent. There is nothing going on in this photograph. No story and no strong or interesting gesture or subjects either.

Antonio_Trogu: The framing could have been much better even at this distance, it feels rushed, haphazard and surreptitious. And closer is not automatically better. I'm curious about their surroundings.

Many people seem to struggle with the fact that your fear will almost certainly not only be visible in the frames you make, it will also be visible to the people you photograph as well. That goes for talatAhm as well. The low angle, the tilt, the lack of focus...it all screams crappy random hipshot due to fear of being seen taking a photograph.

Mike_McCawley: The line down his neck and the sign are nice, but unless that tree had something to say that I'm missing, everything of interest is crammed into the right side of the frame.

Mike_McCawley:

I like it a lot. That's a face that really needs to be seen in profile. So intrigued by the line on his neck. A scar? A trickle of beer? Like the sign and the hand holding that beer. That said, think this would work best as part of a series than as a standalone.

Mike_McCawley:

I know that guy, but down here he wears a mullet.

Mike_McCawley,
daily-life.photography,
Dr.Fuzz &
Poagao, thanks for your precious critiques and hints! I really appreciate!

talatAhm:

I won't say that this group isn't interesting. There's always potential. But as mentioned, it looks like a hip shot. Doesn't look like you took much care in composing your shot/framing your subjects.

Mike_McCawley:
I like this image, especially the small detail on the face. The sign and some pink stuff at RHS attracts my attention and a little bit unbalances central triangle composition.

artisintheyes:

This is not a very interesting image, it's just a kid playing and not a very expressive moment. The colour pallet is also quite dull.
The top edge distracts too much and exacerbates the tilt of the image which doesn't add anything to the photograph.
The bit of the shoe of the girl also doesn't help. Either chop it off completely or include both her feet in full. As is, it's rather clumsy.

artisintheyes:
You either need to see the likes of Pratoomwong and Webb or you need to study them closer. Or, you don't like that style in which case, you won't make much use of the critique here...

@daily-life.photography
@Dr.Fuzz
Thank you both for your constructive feedback and recommendations,
I will look into the work of Pratoomwong and Webb and do more studying.
I appreciate it immensely!

daily-life.photography: The one point of interest in the photo, i.e. the expression of pain, is compromised by poor framing; the figures in the foreground hinder rather than help the composition, resulting largely in wasted space and an unbalanced frame. I suspect a more sympathetic portrayal of their apparent predicament would communicate more strongly.

artisintheeyes, I actually quite like the image It conveys happiness to me, the tilt doesn't bother me, but I understand why it can be bothersome. I agree with the comment about the feet being chopped off.

daily-life.photography, The out of focus face on the left with the way it is blending with the other OOF background elements is VERY distracting to me. I keep coming back to it trying to make sense of what I am seeing there, rather than staying focused on the central figure. I also feel a little voyeuristic looking at this image. I'm not sure whether it's ok or not. I want to see emotion in st photography and this has it in spades, but without context I'm not sure about it, and I personally don't think I would have made it public.

bouwebrouwer1: I ship those white lines, but they got some work to do to overcome all that asphalt. Thick-glasses kid is an interesting subject looking in vain for a better composition to inhabit. I'd have liked to seen the colors, but that's just me.

Thank you!

I'm having a hard time with the window frame on the left. I think a tighter framing would have been better, as there is a lot of space above the dryers as well. Apart from that I like it :)

Tony.

The window frame gives away your fear of taking the shot.

Mike_McCawley: By the time I got closer he woke up =(

_wintermute: I've tried it in Lightroom and you right.


Thank you very much for the crituque, guys! Got it, need to get closer. =)

P.S. It's not clear from the rules if I can show "fixed" based on your advise photo.

no. one photo per week, no exceptions. and radical cropping isn't the solution to bad framing.

CSXbot:

You can always post a link to the edited version. This allows the curious to click and spares the folks who already know you cant crop a bad shot into good one from having to suffer more.

"By the time I got closer he woke up =( "

Well, then either you need to move faster, or you need to know when to admit defeat and move on. Clearly the better photo is one which is just the reclining man and the three dryers, everything else in your frame is a distraction and contributes nothing.

Im not sure why the guy being awake makes a difference though. Did he wake up and jump off the bench? Awake or asleep, the composition doesnt change, and perhaps the incongruity of an awake man lying on a bench in a laundrymat might make for a more interesting photo. Certainly, that is the one I would like to see.

Back for another round ;)

....in that case this effort earns a first round knock out from me....WTH is the point of this crud? On initial viewing i am encumbered to see anything that will vindicate further study. i was going to say it is in focus but your lengthy justification, sorry, description of it says it is not in focus. i'll stand corrected.
But i do persevere and look into the bigger version.....and what rewards my effort.... main subject has back towards me just a vague outline of...a...thong is it? Further along a creepy guy is lurking in the bushes eyeballing creepy guy taking street photos (thats you i guess) alongside is a bored dude and further on more backs.
I guess what i am trying to say is just because 7 days came round doesn't mean a compulsory upload to critique thread is warranted. As the street cop would say....."Move along folks, nothing to see here ".

Poagao:

Thanks TC.

_wintermute:
I thought you'd already learned better than this!? I know tastes differ but i can't imagine anyone thinking this photo any more than bland. And the framing is terrible. I think that should be your main focus for improvement. Once that's coming along, then tackle the hunt for better subject matter.

Artvendeco: I guess I asked for that. But for the record it's been 12 days ;) (edit: on the focus, it's not up to the standard I expect from this lens, not particularly apparent at this size but it is obvious when looking at the native resolution).
Dr.Fuzz: That's why I am posting, I still don't know. I went out and tried (a few times) but obviously need to try harder, perhaps the problem is I'm trying too hard rather than letting it be natural. The fear thing that TC talks about is coming through!

I suspect some of my candids of people I know where I have felt comfortable taking them would be regarded more highly, but they are not street (and not on flickr). I'm not yet comfortable on the street, and that I think is the biggest problem, I'm hesitating, and then rushing.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not sure where to go from here. I don't want to waste peoples time, maybe I should just wait till I take something where I think "yeah this is really good maybe this is it".... I certainly didn't think that about this photo, but I did hope it was showing at least some improvement, but apparently not.

Tony.

_wintermute:

don't be afraid to go back to the basics of good street photography. look for something artistic, something interesting, some decisive moment in the street. all three, if you're lucky. keeping things simple and uncluttered usually helps. a good street photo must first be a good photo, if it's not, it's not going to cut it. oftentimes we all will shoot and bin a huge pile of cruddy photos on the streets before photographing something that we might be happy with. be your own toughest critic before posting your shot here, and you will find gentler criticism of your photos when you do. all the best for your next photo submission!

on a side note, am glad to see a return to the old critique thread format.

_wintermute:

Another thing to know about street photography is that the success rate is very very very low. So you can spend a year shooting every day and still not come up with more than a handful or two that are real keepers. I say this so you don't get frustrated that you're not coming up with anything on one or two lunch hours, especially if you're rarely lifting the camera to get the shot.

You need to overcome your fear of getting close to strangers and taking their picture. It's simple as that. Doesn't mean you'll make good pictures, but at least it gets you on that path. Google around and there are lots of people offering advice about overcoming your fear in the streets (some of dubious value, but others really helpful). For many/most of us, the reward comes not in the photograph, but in the act of photographing...if you're scared/intimidated, well that's no fun. So what's the point?

Also, I'd suggest you spend some more time looking at pictures...this stream, phonebooks, magnum, etc. The inspiration will be motivate and educate you. Good luck!

_wintermute:
Who are three of your favorite photographers; street or otherwise?

_wintermute I think it's clear from what others have said that this particular image doesn't exactly stand out. For me there is no clear subject or sense of composition here.

"...perhaps the problem is I'm trying too hard rather than letting it be natural."

IMO your main goal should be to enjoy the process. Take your time. There is no rush. And as Claire rightly says the success rate is incredibly low for this type of photography. Just read any interview with well-known street photographers to find that out.

Other than looking at the work of great photographers I recommend watching great photographers at work too. There's lots of footage on YouTube of the likes of Joel Meyerowitz, Alex Webb, Jeff Mermelstein, Matt Stuart etc at work.

_wintermute:
I've read the description to the picture and have to say that one hour at lunch is not enough to start the process.

First of all a big thank you to all of you! :)

Poddy1021: When I used to shoot film I was much more careful what I photographed (generally not st), if I got one "good" shot in a roll of 36 I was happy. Digital I guess has to a large extent thrown discipline out of the window. I do need to get better at critiquing myself. The one thing that holds me back a bit is that often it is the photos that I think are no good are the ones that people really like... I've never worked out why.

Clairbrinberg: I have read a few bogs, I need to keep doing so, also viewing other pictures... I probably need to try and analyze them more so I understand why they are good. Yes I see the fear is a big blocker. Something that getting out there is the only way to overcome.

Dr.Fuzz: I always have trouble with favourites. Famous people I can't say, two that come to mind straight away here on flickr are Max Gor and Shakmati. I'll get back to you when I have done more study :)

steverydz: yes I haven't enjoyed the last few times I have gone out, and that is a problem. If I don't enjoy it I'll a) not take good photos and b) will be less likely to go out in future! That needs to be a priority too!

maksim_milykh: yes I think I need to go out on a weekend for a half or full day with no time pressure, see how I go, rinse and repeat :)

Tony.

clairebrinberg: Right moment for the bird, but little and distant connection to the rest. Wide angle often causes such problems. The rough cut-off at top and left hurts the motive.

Yeah, I'm going to agree with
Martin Amager there. The moment seems pretty cool but I guess it happened so fast there wasn't really time to plan for anything else. I'm wondering what it would have looked like if you had been looking at this from the right side (front of the bird). The right hand side of the frame doesn't seem to be offering anything and more seems to happening on the left.

clairebrinberg:

A lot going on in the frame but I think a step or two back would have helped a ton. I like the guy in the background caught post-throw. Overall the whole thing just doesn't come together for me though.

The decision to include the folks on the right is perplexing to me.

too bad the terrible overlap can't overcome the overwhelming banality of shooting people in their workplace, trapped behind the counter where they have no choice about putting up with the public indignities. hipshotty angle doesn't help.

Felipe M. Cruz:

Maybe, just maybe, but unlikely, there's a photograph in the bottom left of the frame. I can't work out what the other parts of the photograph are there for. What compelled you to shoot this frame? Am I missing something?

Martin Amager:
Rammy Narula:
Mike_McCawley:

Thanks everyone! Agree a couple steps back, and probably one to the right would have helped.

Clairebrinberg: nice timing! I can't add anything to what others have said :)
Mike_McCawley: I think I understand why you put the group of people in the shot. There is a sort of in-congruence to it.... I kind of like the difference in leg lengths of the couple but I also feel somewhat uncomfortable with the image at the same time.
artvendeco I'm really struggling with the white balance (or perhaps it is over-saturated).... skin tones look off to me! Bear in mind I'm red/green colour blind so this may be just me.
Felipe M. Cruz: Pretty much as Rammy said, everything going on is in the bottom left. I'm not sure what the significance of the Downtown Informatic is....

Tony.

IMHO, street photography isn't about forcing yourself to "go out" for an hour or two to "get some shots." It's something that some people just do because they like it, because they can't help themselves, and just see the world a certain way, 24/7/365. The camera is always there, always ready, but even if it's not, the eyes are always seeing photos appear and vanish.

This is in no way any attempt to denigrate those people who aren't like that. It's just that I've seen so many people, especially since SP became more popular, who want to be the kind of person who is "into" SP, but simply aren't into the process. It's not unlike people who desire to be writers and have all the accouterments of the pursuit, but who hardly write because they don't actually like the act of writing.

Basically, what I'm trying to say, not necessarily to a particular poster but to anyone who may feel overwhelmed by the demands of shooting SP, is just this: Do what you like to do. This is what we like to do, so we keep doing it. Usually, if you do something for long enough, just out of pure enjoyment of doing it rather any sense of obligation, you'll eventually get better at it.

Thanks TC what you have written resonates with me. The desire has always been there (but ebs and flows a bit). Doing something constructive with that desire requires getting over the fear. I see that very clearly now, but for some reason I hadn't consciously accepted it before. So many missed opportunities (but that's like the fish that got away).

The proof is in the pudding as they say, and who's to say that any of those "missed" opportunities would have been any good anyway. I know there have been plenty of times I've taken a shot thinking this will be fantastic (not necessarily st), only to be extremely disappointed.

I think will do as I have in the past, I will go and make photo's when I feel like doing so, I have never had good results (I realise a subjective term) in the past when I took the camera out because I thought I should rather than because I wanted to). I'll shoot what I like and if someone else likes it great, but most importantly because I like to :)

edit: Dr Fuzz: I'll add one professional, Ernst Haas :)

Tony.

justinsdisgustin:

I worked the scene a bit. Some with people some without. As somebody else mentioned, I was drawn to the incongruity of these two all over each other next to a crowd. Wasn't sure if it worked for anyone but me though.

"It's something that some people just do ... because they can't help themselves, and just see the world a certain way, 24/7/365. The camera is always there, always ready, but even if it's not, the eyes are always seeing photos appear and vanish."

YES! This is what the "HARDCORE" in HSCP is meant to represent.

artvandeco:
"WTH is the point of this crud?"

Sorry to quote your own critique to you but it's what comes to mind here. It also looks noisy, off focus (at least on your initial subject) and poorly colour treated, if at all.

artvandeco:

Agree w what others have already said though that little face poking out in the corner is a fun detail... Unfortunately it gets lost in the mess of the rest of the frame.

_wintermute:

Thanks for the note. I think it demonstarates a point i suspected. Your answers seemed to be a struggle and took a while. If you can't think of people, quickly, with awe and conviction, how do you know what youre aiming for? Or indeed, aiming beyond?

Rammy Narula:
Thanks for the critique, Rammy. With this shot, i mainly wanted to register the man staring at the woman, while there's another man inside the building in the same line of sight. I decided to keep the storefronts and not crop them out, as i think they add a bit of context (this was shot in the downtown area of my town), and because the sign, coupled with the storefront in the same yellow tone, add a bit of colour to the shot.

_wintermute:

Hey Tony, thanks for taking the time to critique. I've made some points in my reply to Rammy that may clarify why the shot was taken that way.

Thanks for the tips guys, living and learning

I am very new to street photography and photography in general. Here is my first post in this group: I would be very grateful for any advice on how I can take better street portraits next time. Thanks so much for any criticism and best wishes. -Leopold

leopoldvincentmedley:

The first thing to consider is that street photography is almost always candid and therefore unlikely to be a street portrait.

The woman was doing poses and things for me, is it wrong to "direct" your subjects? i.e. tell them "do that again for me" or "look off that way"

It's wrong if you're practicing this thing we call "street photography." What you're doing isn't objectively wrong, its just not what we do here.

Mike_McCawley:

Thanks, point taken

Dr.Fuzz:

I appreciate the critique, thank you.

_wintermute:

red green blindness aside...a messy composition will always be what it is. thanks for the comments.

Sixft Whiterabbit:

your valuable input is very helpful.

I guess I'm not doing true street photography then, because my photos aren't candid. I guess I'm doing street portraits, if that's a thing. Thanks for the input.

_wintermute: artvandeco:
You both need to exercise more control. Check what’s happening. Work the situation. Take more shots. Be selective. If you’d waited until the dead wood (backs, staff) was out of the picture, you might have had something approaching the single peppercorn in a big bland background type of shot: The guy peering from the bushes; the menu peeper.

artvandeco:
Looking forward to more of your critiques. New thread new idiom!

_wintermute:
Good luck on your next outing. Would red shoes do the trick? You’ve got to want to party. You’ve got to be the guy the Berghain bouncer opens the door for, because you belong to the mix - like T.C. and Justin and 2-card Harv. Even they’re aware of the hardcore risks, “an overheated engine that will not stop even after the key has been turned off.”

Mike_McCawley: "Wasn't sure if it worked for anyone but me though" It worked for me :) I think it is a good example of how personal photography can be, some will connect with it and others will not.

Dr.Fuzz: Yes! I'm not a favourites type of person, ask me that for anything and I will struggle. I've never really looked at anyones work and tried to work out what about it I really like, little own try and replicate it. I tend to walk the path less trodden, in most things, just because I can. I've just been bumbling along not actively trying to improve, just being happy with what I get, never taking a critical look or setting some goal.

lepoldvincentmdeley: The way I look at it there are many sub-categories of the genre "Street Photography", and street portraits would fall under one of these sub-categories (and there are no doubt sub-categories of st portraits as well). This group I would suggest is another sub-category. Just have a look at the miryad groups on flickr that are related to street photography and the diversity of their "rules" and it should become apparent that it means different things to different people.

Tony.

Johnpaddler Thanks :) Yes patience is something I wasn't practicing! I think lunch time is not a good time. Time pressure, + not great light. I brought the camera today perhaps I will go for a wander after work. I've set myself up for failure though as I decided to try the 20mm lens (full frame). I like the red shoes idea!! Yes maybe I need to really stick out!! then the camera is secondary.

One thing I have noticed. People just don't seem as friendly any more. Almost everyone actively tries to avoid eye contact I feel uncomfortable walking down the st even without a camera a lot of the time. I was in Singapore recently and it was very refreshing just how friendly everyone was. No one bats an eyelid when you are carrying a camera. The day I went out and took the shot above I really felt that even with the camera just hanging around my neck that people were looking at me with great suspicion. I don't know whether it was the camera, or something I was unwittingly giving off.

johnpaddler:

Thank you for the encouragement, John.

leopoldvincentmedley:

I like your shot. It's just a little dark and if you brightned it a tad with a whack of contrast, it'd be cool.

This IS street photography but as Wintermute points out, it's a sub-genre of a sort. Mike is half right. It's not 'wrong' if you're practicing street photography. Nothing's wrong. But he's right in that this group is primarily about the candid moment.

If you like this style, keep at it. I think you'll have a knack given your apparent fearlessness photographing this woman (if she was a stranger.) This thread can teach you everything you need to know about ANY kind of photography. Principals of composition, moment and practices are the same. You just might not be able to post so many shots as 'candid' is prefered.

Hello, all,

Thanks in advance for any comment.
When I saw this scene I decided to took a shot and in my opinion it is a good street photography. Otherwise you'll see different than myself and help to understand what do in next shots to improve it.

arnaldofiori:
In my opinion it is not a good street photograph. You seem to hveba series going on of people sleeping or otherwise lounging around. This could be a good thing if they didnt all smack of the fear of shooting people from better angles than behind, or sideling or far away or otherwise. As another photographer I look at this and thing 'that was the easy angle' and sense the lack of effort in it. If you made something out of these sleeping people, they'd have to be more dynamic and interesting than this guys tshirt and curls. A shame as the light could be nice and shadows could have been nice.