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I took this picture a few years ago, just because of the man in the front.
The triangle of people creates a sort of motion. I'm curious of what you think of it.
| Brand: | Sony |
| Camera: | Sony A550 |
| Lens: | DT 18-70mm F3.5-5.6 |
| Recording media: | RAW (digital) |
| Date Taken: | 12 Jun 2011 - 11:54 AM |
| Focal Length: | 45mm |
| Lens Max Aperture: | f/5.6 |
| Aperture: | f/8.0 |
| Shutter Speed: | 1/320sec |
| Exposure Comp: | -0.7 |
| ISO: | 200 |
| Exposure Mode: | Aperture-priority AE |
| Metering Mode: | Multi-segment |
| Flash: | Off, Did not fire |
| White Balance: | As Shot |
| Title: | Gent, Belgium |
| Username: | 
brikaer |
| Uploaded: | 16 Feb 2013 - 7:36 PM |
| Tags: | Black & white, Photo journalism, Portraits / people |
| VS Mode Rating |
101 (50% won) These stats show the percentage of wins and the rating score that your photo has achieved. You can go to the VS Mode by clicking on this icon. Signup to e2Signup to e2 to see which photo this has won or lost against in the vs mode |
| Votes: | Voting Disabled |
 | Critique Wanted |
| Modifications Welcome (Upload a Modification) |
Comments
Hmmm,
Quite a lot going on here, isn't there?
You could use various crops to end up with several equally interesting images.
Personally, I'd remove the woman on the right, who for some inexplicable reason, I find irritating and the guy on the left.
It needs a little straightening too.
That leaves a much cleaner shot of the elderly couple trying to get across the road.
And completely destroys the story that your original image was portraying!
I won't bother with a mod.
For what it's worth, I hope this helps.
Bren.
Leave this at it is. There are three figures controlling the action. The fellow in the background top left, observing. The foreground left fellow in the beret, strong but confused. And the woman on the right, attempting to impose some order, directing gaze back into the frame. And then there's there's the really important figure, the white-haired lady who doesn't know which way to turn.
It's the frozen moment, with all its questions and mystery. The important thing technically for me is the square crop which contains the scene. I covet this one.
Moira
I keep coming back to this.
It's as if I've missed something; I think I should have read your description more carefully.
There's more here than I paid attention to. The woman on the right is seemingly agitated and giving directions to the lady crossing the road (?) but we've no idea what they might be. And who's the guy (that I wrongly discounted) on the left? He's seen, or more likely, heard something.
The gent in the foreground's not following, he's more intent on looking for oncoming traffic despite his companion already being half way across the road. Confused? Or just careful? Hard to tell here.
It's a thought provoking image, which I discounted far too quickly.
Did you take another shot? One to succeed this one. It would be interesting to follow this up. Possibly to a conclusion?
B.
Its a very nice street scene. technically is improved with highlights toned down, a little contrast, and some noise added.
And someone removed.
Done in the mod.
Everyone missed the arrow on the old lady's dress pointing right, while the woman is pointing left. I wonder if theres some meaning there? Just a joke re the above comments!
I wonder if its meant to be a Ghent gent?
Willie
I agree with all what is said, and in particular there is plenty of action. But it is unclear action, meaningless in fact. Extrapolating that lack of clarity into "mystery" is a bit far fetch, as in your photographic life , you will find more interesting mysterious scenes or situations than this one. Personally, when i take a picture like that that makes me wonder so much if it is good or if it is bad, it is usually bad, better drop it, and start roaming the streets all over again 
I don't get any real sense of cohesion here. Although contained in the frame, the different people are not interacting.
The woman pointing looks like she's communicating with someone on the pavement to the left and behind the nearest man, not the old lady. Nothing says to me there is any connection between the older man and older lady as they appear to be moving in different directions. I'm not sure what the man at the back is looking at, but all the extra figures just serve to clutter the scene.
To me, it looks like something is about to happen, or just has, and we've missed it, or we are in the wrong spot. One that i feel HCB would pass over, sorry.
Nick
Decent street scene but too many unconnected actions going on. Old chap is main figure, but cropping does 't help much. The sign at the top could go and the lighter triangle on the right pulls the eye. Street scenes can be difficult. Best with very few people or a group with compositional or actual link. Or a lot of people with a main figure dominant.
Paul
The comments above illustrate why street photography is important to me. It's the frozen moment with all its ambiguities. It makes people think, it stretches the imagination. Everyone has their own interpretation, their own choreography. This works for me, I see connections, a logic - not everyone does.
The site seems to me to divide between members who want satisfying, complete images that leave no questions unanswered; and those who want to be challenged, who want to think for themselves. This upload is definitely in the latter category.
Quote: The comments above illustrate why street photography is important to me.
I just couldn't agree more. I wish to thank you all for your comments, the pro's and the cons.
Street photography can be approached many ways. Sometimes I compose and wait (first spot the place/background and wait for something to happen) and sometimes I just see and click.
This picture is certainly not my best. That's why I can agree with comments like "there is too much going on" and "there is no interaction".
On the other hand: these people are there, don't know each other, and still make this picture work.
I would like to thank banehawi for his mod. I like it very much and I wish I could do this in PS.
Again: thank you all for your comments, I hope we'll all be discussing pictures in our own honest way!
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