Some candid shots from Brighton

Steve M · 6 Jun 2012 at 13:33

Here's a scenario for you.

Forum user (me) thought commenting in any thread on the photopgraphy forums of which they were a member was ok.

Clearly it's not.

Forum user made the mistake of thinking that he and all of the other forums users worked in the same offiice and got along.

He now realises that they don't.

Forums user is annoyed at how pathetic internet forums can sometimes be.

An Exception · 6 Jun 2012 at 13:45

Forum user annoyed by wilful lack of comprehension by other forum user.

Guitarman0 · 6 Jun 2012 at 13:48

I think the point is we are assuming the OP has posted looking for constructive feedback and constructive criticism. By saying that it isn't your taste isn't going to help him make his photos any better.

Street photography isn't my taste either before you call me biast

Steve M · 6 Jun 2012 at 13:54

Guitarman0 said:
I think the point is we are assuming the OP has posted looking for constructive feedback and constructive criticism. By saying that it isn't your taste isn't going to help him make his photos any better.

Street photography isn't my taste either before you call me biast

Yes, i do get that and i meant no offense to the OP.

Nexus · 6 Jun 2012 at 14:12

1. - I like this best, though I feel the shoe just in right of the shot draws my attention unnecessarily.

2. - I don't like this because it feels like a snapshot, 'Why is he taking a photo of us?"

3. - Might have been good with better composition of the subject.

4. - Does nothing for me, the one guy even has his eyes closed.

5. - A little better, but I still feel it's not really candid because one of them is looking at you and the other trying to avoid looking at you.

6. - Seem to be trying to tell us something a little more because of the hairbrush.

7. - I just feel this one is fairly mundane, it's not one I would have selected.

Clown · 6 Jun 2012 at 15:32

Steve M said:
Here's a scenario for you.

Forum user (me) thought commenting in any thread on the photopgraphy forums of which they were a member was ok.

Clearly it's not.

Forum user made the mistake of thinking that he and all of the other forums users worked in the same offiice and got along.

He now realises that they don't.

Forums user is annoyed at how pathetic internet forums can sometimes be.

Did you not like your original analogy? We're not saying you can't or shouldn't comment on a thread. I thought Exception explained it quite well and in a light hearted manner with his Hovis joke.

An Exception said:
Forum user annoyed by wilful lack of comprehension by other forum user.

This. You're completely missing the point.

Guitarman0 said:
I think the point is we are assuming the OP has posted looking for constructive feedback and constructive criticism. By saying that it isn't your taste isn't going to help him make his photos any better.

Street photography isn't my taste either before you call me biast

It's not my point. I don't care if comments are constructive or not, but you don't put your hand in a fire and complain that it's hot.

I was willing to leave it at "you didn't read the title and you didn't know what this thread was going to be about", but then you started wriggling. Stop wriggling!

P.S. All those pictures are rubbish.

Steve M · 6 Jun 2012 at 15:48

Ha ha ok i'll stop wriggling and yeah, the pictures are rubbish.

ARD · 6 Jun 2012 at 16:22

Opinions are like a**holes - everyone has one, best thing to do is consider it valid points, don't take anything personally on a forum, ain't worth it

Regardless of what people think, I have a question - on photo 2 what did you first see lol

Personally I think they are a good set of shots, might not be technically excellent, but they have caught the moment well

Clown · 6 Jun 2012 at 16:52

I still want to know about the weird motion blur.

Guitarman0 · 6 Jun 2012 at 17:19

Clown said:
It's not my point. I don't care......

I know, it's my point

D.P. · 6 Jun 2012 at 17:32

Clown said:
I still want to know about the weird motion blur.

it is very off putting. - OP, please don't ruin your photos with gimmicky Photoshop plugins.

Will try o give some proper feedback after a meeting, but to summarise:

Be very careful with composition, most of the photos are lacking here. #3 has so much more potential but the composition is very boring.

Look for a story. You can't just go out on the street and take photographs of random people doing boring things. You need to create a piece of art such that the viewer is intrigued and thinking about the subject of the photo. It takes a long time to get even 1 good candid photo, don't expect to get a whole set after a single outing. Maybe set your sights on 1 good portfolio photo per month.

THC_SsSsSnake · 6 Jun 2012 at 18:24

well I want to get into street photography cus i like the idea of capturing human life and spontaneous happenings.thankyou for posting as they inspire me when I see them. I just need to practice now.please continue to post ,

THC_SsSsSnake · 6 Jun 2012 at 18:26

DP thanks for your insight,it is making me think about what i should try and capture,its all good info

Nexus · 6 Jun 2012 at 18:43

D.P. said:
it is very off putting. - OP, please don't ruin your photos with gimmicky Photoshop plugins.

I guess its an attempt to try and create a shallow depth of field where the background was all very sharp, such as the first picture.

The OP did say he used minimal PP, but I think that is more than a minimal change.

wildman · 6 Jun 2012 at 20:20

D.P. said:
it is very off putting. - OP, please don't ruin your photos with gimmicky Photoshop plugins.

Will try o give some proper feedback after a meeting, but to summarise:

Be very careful with composition, most of the photos are lacking here. #3 has so much more potential but the composition is very boring.

Look for a story. You can't just go out on the street and take photographs of random people doing boring things. You need to create a piece of art such that the viewer is intrigued and thinking about the subject of the photo. It takes a long time to get even 1 good candid photo, don't expect to get a whole set after a single outing. Maybe set your sights on 1 good portfolio photo per month.

Nexus said:
I guess its an attempt to try and create a shallow depth of field where the background was all very sharp, such as the first picture.

The OP did say he used minimal PP, but I think that is more than a minimal change.

Thanks for the feedback. I know my skills are lacking in street work which is why i osted here looking for some constructive analysis of where I am getting things wrong.

The weird motion blur thing is where I passed a radial blur filter across the background layer to try and create a more shallow DoF to bring the subject out more, but I think i did not do a very good job. The original photo's had too much of a sharp background as I think I stopped down too much on the aperture bringing to much into focus.

Lesson 1 learnt from this is to use wider aperture and try and get composition right in the camera rather than trying to make something out of a poor comp later in PP

Clown · 6 Jun 2012 at 20:41

You're cropping pretty tight for a lot of them too. How did you find going out and taking pictures of strangers?

wildman · 6 Jun 2012 at 21:03

Clown said:
You're cropping pretty tight for a lot of them too. How did you find going out and taking pictures of strangers?

The first few minutes / shots are still quite nerve racking as it feels like you are doing something wrong or illegal, but then you kind of just blend in and look like a tourist.

Its a part of photography I would like to get into more and actually do better at. Its gets mundane doing still life / landscapes after a while

Clown · 6 Jun 2012 at 21:27

I started off doing street because it was most accessible to me in London. I am Asian so I already look like a tourist