Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: stamper on February 21, 2015, 07:12:30 am

Title: Coming & Going.
Post by: stamper on February 21, 2015, 07:12:30 am
Been "sitting" on this one for a while. Couldn't make up my mind whether to post it....or not?
Title: Re: Coming & Going.
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 21, 2015, 10:01:26 am
It may not be an "instant knockout" like many you have posted, but I find it quite satisfying and worth spending time studying it.
The positioning of the separate groups of people, and the one guy going a different direction, is excellent.
Title: Re: Coming & Going.
Post by: RSL on February 21, 2015, 10:05:15 am
It's evocative of some of Paul Strand's best work. Very nice, Stamper.
Title: Re: Coming & Going.
Post by: PeterAit on February 21, 2015, 10:08:15 am
I like it a lot! And remember, posting photos is not just for showing off your best work, it's also for getting input on how a photo might be improved.
Title: Re: Coming & Going.
Post by: Arlen on February 21, 2015, 10:37:19 am
I like it. To me your processing choice adds a lot.
Title: Re: Coming & Going.
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on February 21, 2015, 11:04:09 am
Not bad at all. A good example where "crushed" blacks serve the purpose to reduce picture elements to shapes and forms, increase simplicity, reduce unnecessary details, and accentuate movement.
Title: Re: Coming & Going.
Post by: luxborealis on February 21, 2015, 11:17:09 am
I must admit to not being a fan of street photography (amongst other reasons, it's my aversion to the urban self-interest so celebrated today), but Coming and Going stands out for me. This photograph works on so many levels: it's dynamic, graphical, textural and tactile; could be yesterday or yesteryear. It's evocative of a mood, and begs many unanswered questions. I feel a bit like a pinball going from point to point, person to person, but that's the very strength of this photograph and it's all held together by the elements along the edges: post box, benches bottom left dark are and the narrow street + crush of people along the top. Well-seen, captured and processed. Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Coming & Going.
Post by: RSL on February 21, 2015, 11:56:24 am
Hi Terry, I agree with just about every thing you said, but a photograph can't "beg" questions, answered or unanswered. It can raise them but it can't beg them.
Title: Re: Coming & Going.
Post by: luxborealis on February 21, 2015, 02:06:41 pm
Hi Terry, I agree with just about every thing you said, but a photograph can't "beg" questions, answered or unanswered. It can raise them but it can't beg them.

While that may be strictly correct, I specifically chose "begs" because, poetically, it connotes a great sense of urgency than ”asks" or "raises". This is art, after all! ;)
Title: Re: Coming & Going.
Post by: mezzoduomo on February 21, 2015, 02:38:24 pm
Lovely shot. I particularly appreciate the light on the paving stones.
Title: Re: Coming & Going.
Post by: RSL on February 21, 2015, 03:56:45 pm
While that may be strictly correct, I specifically chose "begs" because, poetically, it connotes a great sense of urgency than ”asks" or "raises". This is art, after all! ;)

True, but if you're "begging the question" with a photograph it's very bad art.
Title: Re: Coming & Going.
Post by: stamper on February 22, 2015, 05:27:40 am
Thanks to all for the positive feedback.  :)
Title: Re: Coming & Going.
Post by: stamper on February 22, 2015, 05:30:35 am
I like it a lot! And remember, posting photos is not just for showing off your best work, it's also for getting input on how a photo might be improved.

I fully agree about improvement. Sometimes I feel the members could make suggestions in a more positive way? :)
Title: Re: Coming & Going.
Post by: BobDavid on February 22, 2015, 09:38:31 am
The post processing is great--love the contrast and just enough detail to see the faces on the right. Also, you really went out on a limb and broke a lot of conventions/rules regarding the overall composition--nice. There is a lot to look at. My only nit (and this is purely a matter of taste/preference) is that the bench on the left and the trash receptacle on the right interfere. I know purist street photographers will argue that point. However, I think all is fair in love, war, and photography. I'd clone out those two elements. That would be easy to do.
Title: Re: Coming & Going.
Post by: stamper on February 22, 2015, 10:23:09 am
I thought about cloning but they are part of the scene. I don't believe in perfection with regards to an image so I decided to leave them and see what feedback there was.
Title: Re: Coming & Going.
Post by: BobDavid on February 22, 2015, 10:53:57 am
Hi Stamper. I certainly agree with your decision. After all, it is your art. Curiosity got the best of me while sipping coffee, so I did some retouch work on your photo. I hope you don't mind. I do think whichever version the artist chooses is the correct version. I didn't spend a lot of time finessing. I think the young girl's mother is a bit too light now. The girl/young woman has a wonderful face.
Title: Re: Coming & Going.
Post by: jjj on February 22, 2015, 11:02:03 am
What would strengthen the image in my view, would be a slightly higher vantage point to get rid of the background feet.
Title: Re: Coming & Going.
Post by: BobDavid on February 22, 2015, 11:58:38 am
The background feet are great--in my opinion.  I don't like the way I cropped Stampers photo. I just wanted to noodle around.
Title: Re: Coming & Going.
Post by: jjj on February 22, 2015, 12:05:50 pm
If not overlapping the main subject, it would make for a stronger composition.
Title: Re: Coming & Going.
Post by: Rajan Parrikar on February 22, 2015, 03:24:07 pm
Late to the party - excellent.
Title: Re: Coming & Going.
Post by: sdwilsonsct on February 22, 2015, 08:31:16 pm
Late to the party - excellent.
Yes!
Title: Re: Coming & Going.
Post by: stamper on February 23, 2015, 03:41:35 am
What would strengthen the image in my view, would be a slightly higher vantage point to get rid of the background feet.

I am about 5ft 8inches tall and I don't think I could double or treble might height to shoot from higher up. I have seen photographers with step ladders, but they are too heavy for me to carry around. Failing that there isn't anything else because the area around there is fairly flat. I think the background adds to the image and helps set the scene. With regards to cropping then the image had been cropped to take out as much clutter as possible. At the end of the day it is all about opinions?