Thursday's Street Thread 7 Feb, 2008

[rxmd]

'Thursday's Street Thread' is just a bunch of us showing some of their street photography and talking about it.

This thread is not about whether you like street photography as a genre, or whether it even exists as a genre. It is all about photographic images and their merits or faults within the genre. Constructive criticism is the key word. Please, comment on the images, and post your street photos for the constructive comments of others.

There's no membership requirement, no criteria, no voting, and no limit to the number of photos posted. The only 'rule' is that Thursday's Street Thread is about commenting on other people's pictures at least as much as it is about showing your own.

If you can, post images as thumbnails or attachments rather than as full-scale images, to keep the thread readable and fast-loading and to keep the server load low.

Anybody can start the thread on a Thursday morning.

Anybody can join in.

[rxmd]

OK. Here's a very simple picture I took a month ago or so here in Berlin. It's more of a non-decisive moment than a decisive one. It's also not a very good photograph, but those are the best for hearing critique:

55567

If you think it's boring, that's fine with me, just comment on why you think it's boring. I'm ready to have it utterly shot down :)

Philipp

[sleepyhead]

Sounds like fun!

Here's nothing too special - just four Danish guys getting hotdogs.

[kully]

Yaron, your photo works - I like the repetition of the t-shirts - it could almost be four exposure of the same person, along with there being no other beings in the shot.

Sitemistic, this works for me too, took me a second or two to see the point of the slant :) I also like the two girls in the centre flanked by the adults either side, the man's head disappearing out of the world of the little 'uns.

I'm sorry Philip, I couldn't 'get' your photo. :(

[petronius]

rxmd: Maybe a non-decisive monemt, but the decisive moment is overrated imo! Your picture makes the mind flow. Two girls-always good! Why does the man look to his left, when there are these girls on the other side? Nice contrast between the steady scene overall and his velocity. The slightly tilted frame adds to the non-decisive message.
sleepyhead: I like the uniform-like shirts, the contrast between the boring suburbian scene contrasting with the big tree. The picture was shot perfectly timed with matching positions of the four men. Great tones too.
sitemistic: I like the picture for the lots of signs and fragments of ads, all posed in front of the trees. The tilted frame works well with the tilted sign on the right. All adults are partially cut, while the kids, as the pictures main subject are uncut, which leads the lookers attention first to their facial expressions.

These are quick thoughts, so excuse if I completely missed your intentions!

[sleepyhead]

Thanks for the positive comments folks. As for the tones. the picture was taken with a Minolta CLE and 21mm Super-Angulon on Neopan 1600. It was a bright day for that film, but it was all I had with me.... Aperture was probably f/11 or f/16. Neopan is actually quite a remarkable film IMHO.

[petronius]

This thread is a fine idea!
Konica C35AF, Color:-)

[Todd.Hanz]

Sounds like fun!

Here's nothing too special - just four Danish guys getting hotdogs.


The repetition of the shirts and the centered building elements make this one for me.

[Todd.Hanz]

OK. Here's a very simple picture I took a month ago or so here in Berlin. It's more of a non-decisive moment than a decisive one. It's also not a very good photograph, but those are the best for hearing critique:

55567

If you think it's boring, that's fine with me, just comment on why you think it's boring. I'm ready to have it utterly shot down :)

Philipp

I like the girl pulling up her sock, wish the framing were a bit tighter though.

[Todd.Hanz]

This thread is a fine idea!
Konica C35AF, Color:-)


I like grit ;)
The repating yellow color, bag and stripe, make it. There isn't alot more here, maybe less leg and more sidewalk or more human and less sidewalk...I don't know.

[Todd.Hanz]

one from the archives:

[paralx]

Thanks for all the feedback before. Herres a few more...

[Todd.Hanz]

Thanks for all the feedback before. Herres a few more...


The first works for the movement, I find myself asking how he did that...dragging the shutter?

The second has an almost diptych feel, I like that the guy is framed by the window frame, not sure on the right side though.

Todd

[sleepyhead]

Todd, like yours alot - the negative space, the curves, your shadow. Very nice indeed!

[kbg32]

One from late summer, early fall. There's a large outlet store down the street from where I live. Occasionally they place piles of of goods out on the street. I was on my way home from work, when I came upon this scene - women picking through the pile of scores of shoes.

[petronius]

Todd.Hanz: This is an escher-esque disintegration of perspective!
paralx: The first one could be a person and her guardian angel, the second one gives three scenes to look at in one frame.
Pitxu: When its shot in the street, its a street shot-just kiddin´. The best thing in this forum is, that such questions are seen in a cool way- you should look at some german forums:-(
Your shot is a cutout of life in your area. Even if one knows nothing about the corrida he sees a pick of childhood as it should be.

[photophorous]

Sitemistic, great shot. I gotta admit, I didn't get the slant until Kully explained it, but it does give me something to think about, now that my eyes are open.

Pitxu, I like your Pastoral scene with asphalt. It reminds me of being a kid when the strangest things could be such great entertainment. Oh, what am I talking about. The strangest things are still great entertainment.

Keith, very interesting shot. Makes me wonder what the heck is going on. That glare she's giving you is quite powerful.

Ok, here's one of mine. I'm always confused about what is considered "street" photography....this one may be more "bar" photography. Please let me know what you think.

I don't know how to get a thumbnail in the thread, so here's a link:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2418/2119273907_68d2400057_o.jpg

Thanks,
Paul

[kbg32]

rxmd - love the motion blur of the man on the left, but I'm not sure of the overall intention.
sleepyhead - I really like the repetition of their shirts
sitemistic - agree with petronius
petronius - the grityness of this image works, and I like the repeat of the color of the line on the ground with the bag
Todd - overall, an excellent image in every way
paralx - my thoughts are aligned with Todd's
Pitxu - wonderful playful image

Keep them coming!

Thanks for the comments as well, everyone!

[shadowfox]

So far, Yaron's picture is the one stick to my mind.

The skateboard one from Todd, I've seen before.

And now for the chopping block:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2157/2241747831_da193d2e1f.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2220/2241747745_514605331c.jpg
This man seemed to not belong in the scene full of modern gadgetry... :D


from the testroll of the new Ultron I got.

[paralx]

thanks for the feedback. the first one was pure luck. Being close and our combined movement made it possbile. The second one was all about timing. compositionally, it could benefit from from some cropping.

I'm a big fan of the "four guys." it not only give me a sense of place, it also highlights a very simple moment and makes it feel "bigger" than it may have been in reality.

[Aziz]

DC Metro, sometime last month. Photographing the metro is so much fun.

[MickH]

OK. Here's a very simple picture I took a month ago or so here in Berlin. It's more of a non-decisive moment than a decisive one. It's also not a very good photograph, but those are the best for hearing critique:

55567

If you think it's boring, that's fine with me, just comment on why you think it's boring. I'm ready to have it utterly shot down :)

Philipp

Apart from the technical merits of this photograph I feel it can be read as a social document. Shot in Berlin, it could, in fact, have been taken in any city anywhere in the western (influenced) world. LOTTO being a universal word, the only give-away to location that I can see is the reflected "BLUMEN" in the pillar.

[nicoy3k]

I have no idea how to post the pics in the small thumbnail, so ill just post links.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2294/2235294892_b96337f634_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2402/2235294906_b931b3b162_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2414/2235294902_b439870591_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2137/2235294898_b55f757fef_o.jpg

Sorry about the bad scans and small sizes.

[Charly]

My efforts, Bankok and Chonburi, Thailand, December 07.

[Todd.Hanz]

street diptychs (double the fun):

Pen FT Half frame, not my best effort but fun just the same.

[shadowfox]

Ok, how about some fun:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2366/2212119843_67904295b6.jpg

[shadowfox]

Will: If I can have cows, then I suppose birds are OK too..:D

Well, I chose this one for a reason.
To me street photography doesn't restrict me from taking pictures of non-human. There's a lot of good street-photo without people in it.

I submitted this one because I see a lot of human-like behaviour from these loony birds :D

... like squabbling over a parking spot ;)

[petronius]

nicoy3k, I like the way the womans scarf repeats the reflection on the car.

[Charly]

Pixtu: Thank you for your comments! Re the first picture - It's heavily cropped as-is. I was trying to be clever with the composition and failed. You live and learn - it's just a shame it was a lesson learnt the other side of the world.

[Todd.Hanz]

Winter beside the sea.
55606

great grab, love the white sneakers against the black, the angle of the people suggest a windy day. I wish it were a hair sharper.

[nicoy3k]

Thanks for the coments guys

Pixtu, that is great.

[monochromejrnl]

from a couple of weeks ago...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2163/2185745205_b7754aa55f.jpg

[Morca007]

I know it's already in a different thread, but I thought I'd post it here as well:
http://media.uber.com/media_fetch/243515812_84_original

[pellothed1]

Here's a few.

[Samsam]

pellothed1, i love the 2nd pic :)

here is my contribution to the topic

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2256/2234201116_a6b794c929.jpg?v=0

Tri-x @ 1600 souped in D76

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2008/2197816105_41bcc753c1.jpg?v=0

Kodak Portra 400VC

[Morca007]

Samsam- I like the first shot, on the metro, the high contrast, and grain really set the tone.

[Gabriel M.A.]

Pris depuis presque un an...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2219/2246858393_46277326dc.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gabrielma/2246858393/)
Canon 5D + Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM (à Paris)

[Gabriel M.A.]

Winter beside the sea.
55606
I see my comment disappeared in one of the RFF hiccups. I'll say it again:

beautiful.

[pellothed1]

Thanks for the comments everybody. Samsam, maybe next time try to get in a little closer to the action in the first photo, to show the two men in opposite directions a little more predominately. Of course, it's not like you can redo it, so critiqueing is a little less appropriate I think.

I personally take quite a lot of very close pictures and most of them I throw out because I think that they aren't very interesting so Samsam, take my advice with a grain of salt. Occasionally I'll get one in close where the central figure is juxtaposed with another that really makes things come together (like my first photo) which I feel is a sort of contrast between new and old. Unfortunately in the small web jpeg, you can't see that there is a man on the other side of the street looking directly into my lens as well (you can't see his face unless your looking at a 16x24 enlargment). It bother's me the young guy isn't in sharp focus, but I've had several art lovers say that this adds to the dramatic differences shown between youth and old age, but what do they know? The second one someone was swinging an umbrella at me, possibly to prevent me taking the picture. Not sure if they thought I was taking a picture of the baby or not.

Pixtu, I like the picture you posted as well, Winter beside the sea. At first glance I wish there was a little more shadow detail in the wall (or the dark part of the photo between the shoes and the knees). However, I'm not sure that wouldn't alter the mood of the photo, which is really great. I like the motion and the sharpness really doesn't bother, actually I enjoy that it's not sharp, adds to the air of the photo.

[mfunnell]

There are already too many good shots for me to give adequate coverage, so I'll just mention three shots (an arbitrary number) that I really like so far:

Sitemistic's 55572 where the angle, the wheelchair sign and the "child's eye level" it was taken at all combined wonderfully.

Pixtu's 55606 where the suggestion of wind and rain with the angle of the umbrellas is nicely balanced by the startling white of the shoes, and how the simplicity of the photo just works.

Samsam's two gentlemen in the park, where the composition is spot-on and the interaction between the two of them intriquing.

My humble offering:
http://tn3-2.deviantart.com/fs25/300W/f/2008/038/f/3/Pitt_Street_Busker_3_by_mfunnell.jpg (http://fc04.deviantart.com/fs25/f/2008/038/f/3/Pitt_Street_Busker_3_by_mfunnell.jpg)(clickable)
[Leica M3, Elmar-M 28/2.8 @f4; Kodak Gold 100, lab scan; B&W conversion, levels, curves PS CS3]
Pitt Street Mall, a couple of weekends ago (had the film developed this week).

...Mike

[sleepyhead]

Pitxu, I really like the dark tones and windy feeling in your photo of the person with umbrella by the sea.

[Revolucion Artistico]

I'll give it another shot


55646

55647

55648

[mfunnell]

I particularly like the mororcycle shot. Its well constructed, and works nicely in colour.

...Mike

[pellothed1]

Here's one that's not super interesting but the girl's expression really seems to communcate something (she's also quite pretty).

[jky]

michaelbialecki: Nice shot! Thoroughly enjoyed all your photos (on flickr) - a fantastic job.

[jky]

My humble offering:
http://tn3-2.deviantart.com/fs25/300W/f/2008/038/f/3/Pitt_Street_Busker_3_by_mfunnell.jpg (http://fc04.deviantart.com/fs25/f/2008/038/f/3/Pitt_Street_Busker_3_by_mfunnell.jpg)(clickable)
[Leica M3, Elmar-M 28/2.8 @f4; Kodak Gold 100, lab scan; B&W conversion, levels, curves PS CS3]
Pitt Street Mall, a couple of weekends ago (had the film developed this week).

...Mike

Really like this... initially I thought it was "just" another shot of a busker, but I like the backdrop of the lady in the dress & the guy sitting in the back. Nice one!

[michaelbialecki]

Hello,

I am having some trouble posting my photos up the way that Gambriel M.A. did (post #51), so I will just post the link to them below.....

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2248/2232347432_889a59b1dd_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2039/2232329270_ed2c503e41_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2213/2232399061_0bf429a46d_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2188/2232399053_84e3b0efab_b.jpg

I would appreciate it if someone could tell me how to post my images up like the way Gabriel M.A. and others have done......

Thanks, Michael

[shadowfox]

I agree with Pixtu, some scary ones above :) good, but scary!

The ones from michaelbialecki above are awesome!

See if you guys like this one:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2359/2134243311_9bed31c3d9.jpg

[Samsam]

Hi michaelbialecki,

excellent pics !
To post pictures, just copy the image's adress and paste it in the window which pops up when you click on the icon with "mountains" and yellow background"

[jky]

Here's a pic...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/95/278807699_e872812a03.jpg

[nightfly]

http://provoke.mediumstudios.com/images/20071217234436_union-square.jpg

http://provoke.mediumstudios.com/images/20071127212955_preacher.jpg

[mfunnell]

All those photos from michaelbialecki above are awesome!!!
(unlike my own):o
55678


Pitxu.He sure has some great photos there (I especially liked the first). But yours has its own charm: you've made good use of the curve in the road in the composition and kids and dogs make for great subject matter. The look between the dog and the kid is just great.

...Mike

[pellothed1]

I like that photo quite a lot Pixtu.

[charjohncarter]

Mexican street:

[charjohncarter]

Pixtu, good photo, life the way it should be (I'll like people that wear their national costume with pride, that's why I wear button down shirts). I went by a Basque Café in Sonoma, CA. I tried to photograph it, but everyone was walking in front of me. Maybe, I'll post it in 'street' next week.

[Hates_]

Got this in this weeks batch through the post. It's out of focus, but there's something about it that keeps bringing me back. More street portraiture then street-street I suppose.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2310/2250519788_93b5577733.jpg?v=0

Total contrast to the shot below, which I took moments before.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2163/2248932013_740e0a1e95.jpg?v=0

[M. Valdemar]

http://aycu12.webshots.com/image/43251/2004046069335788221_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2004046069335788221)

http://aycu04.webshots.com/image/44483/2004035400250570180_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2004035400250570180)

http://aycu05.webshots.com/image/41964/2004099194489995734_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2004099194489995734)

[M. Valdemar]

http://aycu09.webshots.com/image/44848/2005342209092666237_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2005342209092666237)

http://aycu05.webshots.com/image/43084/2005332498531350302_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2005332498531350302)

http://aycu31.webshots.com/image/42590/2005358044871160741_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2005358044871160741)

[M. Valdemar]

That was scanned from an ancient, faded Kodachrome I took about 30 years ago or more.

The rest are newer.

[M. Valdemar]

That was not but THIS was:

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/3235/benbo6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[cosmonaut]

I have mostly done landscapes but promised myself I would do more street stuff this year. I have a lot to learn.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k35/cosmonaut1959/oldlady.jpg

[mfunnell]

This needs a bump, so here are some shots. The theme is Aussie flags as all were taken on Australia Day (26JAN) this year.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2366/2252851427_0ca3450c38_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mfunnell/2252851427/)(click to flickr)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2100/2235860425_c900346f7f_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mfunnell/2235860425/)(click to flickr)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2153/2235859923_237975d0e6_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mfunnell/2235859923/)(click to flickr)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2252/2236650560_e314d4d29f_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mfunnell/2236650560/)(click to flickr)

...Mike

[Florian1234]

Mike,

I like the first two shots most. Although I don't really see what the old guy is trying to do with the girls there. :D

But I like them. I hope to put in here some street shots myself in the coming weeks. I hardly get one roll done a month. Should increase..... ;)

[mfunnell]

Mike: I love the bar shot. Two guys sat back to back, so far apart.
I think that's what television in pubs does "for" you. (Full disclosure: I was watching the cricket too.)

...Mike

[model337]

great idea for a thread!

sleepyhead and Todd: i really like the symetry of both of your photos on the first page.

Aziz: your first photo is hillarious. great eye!

michaelbialecki: these are lovely images. good framing and DOF. interesting subjects too.


here's one i shot a while back:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2249/1881175916_28efd87d8f.jpg

[MickH]

My first bash. A grainy P&S grab. Be honest.

[MickH]

Thats bloody great Mick !
Honest.

Being stuck up here in the mountains for the last 20 years, I'd forgotten how multi-cultural Britain was/is.


Pitxu.

Thanks Richard.

Erm... the picture was taken in Bombay. I guess it was the incongruity of the Everton sign that caught my attention in the first place.

I'm working on some UK "multicultural" stuff at the moment. Hopefully I'll post anything that's worthwhile in a week or so, maybe less.

[nightfly]

HU, a brilliant shot by Walter Leporati in the gallery.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/8727/U8727I1202844591.SEQ.0.jpg

It's all there, composition, contrast, tones, atmosphere.

I find this one overly grey in tone, and pretty uninteresting. I like the people in the background but the majority of the frame is open space with nothing compelling going on and the guy in the foreground is too far away and doesn't really add much to it.

Perhaps if he were closer and we could read his face a bit more, it might be a good shot but as is, I'd edit it out of my selects.

To each his own.