Can this Picture be classified as Portraits?

[Silence Sky]

CnC, please. May you plese tell me which picture is better in term of composition and can expressed the mood better. Thank you.

[Caspere]

Looks like you "stole" this shot, more like "street" rather than "portrait". The pillar here somehow "cuts" off the attention cos where the subject's eyes sees brings us nowhere.

Usually, in "portraits" we want that "interaction" between the photog and the subject to come thru in the image.

So, my question is "What do you think?" If you had asked for permission and shot him, I think it might have turned out better composed and sharper. YMMV.

[Liew]

my guess is that you're shooting with a 100-200mm range. street photos need to be close to get the intended effect.

[trd2970]

probably belong to the street and candids category?

[StudioFever]

more to the candid side.. not really portrait

[student]

Portrait: a likeness of a person, usually showing the face.

Note that the method of making a portrait is not a criteria to determine if an image is a portrait or not. Nowhere in the definition of a portrait was it stipulated that there must or should be a "subject-photographer interaction".

It can be drawn, or photographed.

And if photographed, formal or candid.

[Silence Sky]

Originally Posted by Caspere Looks like you "stole" this shot, more like "street" rather than "portrait". The pillar here somehow "cuts" off the attention cos where the subject's eyes sees brings us nowhere. Usually, in "portraits" we want that "interaction" between the photog and the subject to come thru in the image. So, my question is "What do you think?" If you had asked for permission and shot him, I think it might have turned out better composed and sharper. YMMV.

Thanks Caspere.

You are right, the picture is soft and I dare not move to his front and take a picture of him. There is a “Mobil Gas” sign board on top of him which I am very interested to include.

I did not ask for permission, and I feel it is not so nice for me to shot this elderly man without asking. However, I think he would not want to express that look of sorrow had I asked. And I can’t possibly tell him: “Uncle, please pose that sad look again for my camera.”

[Silence Sky]

Originally Posted by Liew my guess is that you're shooting with a 100-200mm range. street photos need to be close to get the intended effect.

I shoot this picture at 300mm. Dare not get to close, he is already watching me.

[digisnap]

The picture was able to capture the emotions of the old man. After looking at him carefully, I actually feel his sorrow (but don't know what it is about). His cane seems to be hanging on the side of one of the posts. I would personally prefer a more cropped and close-up shot but as you said, you did not get permission, didn't want to spoil the emotion and you were already shooting at 300mm, you probably just took the shot that you had at the moment. Good decision.

You must have been using a tripod to have very little loss of sharpness at 300mm (although still noticeable).

Anyway, to answer your first question, you already know that this is a candid shot and should be put into the Street and Candids category (not under portraits).

[leejay]

Originally Posted by student Portrait: a likeness of a person, usually showing the face. Note that the method of making a portrait is not a criteria to determine if an image is a portrait or not. Nowhere in the definition of a portrait was it stipulated that there must or should be a "subject-photographer interaction". It can be drawn, or photographed. And if photographed, formal or candid.

Well said, Shifu.

Sky, I think this is a good pic. The old man's face already takes over everything. In photographing people in everyday life, sharpness sometimes spoils everything.

[Silence Sky]

Originally Posted by student Portrait: a likeness of a person, usually showing the face. Note that the method of making a portrait is not a criteria to determine if an image is a portrait or not. Nowhere in the definition of a portrait was it stipulated that there must or should be a "subject-photographer interaction". It can be drawn, or photographed. And if photographed, formal or candid.

Thanks Student, for sharing your points. I like your pictures.
I guessed the Portraiture section is for the formally taken picture only.

[Silence Sky]

Originally Posted by leejay Well said, Shifu. Sky, I think this is a good pic. The old man's face already takes over everything. In photographing people in everyday life, sharpness sometimes spoils everything.

Thanks Lee,
We joined the CS at about the same time.
Your bikini shots are very interesting. I like them.

[Silence Sky]

Originally Posted by digisnap The picture was able to capture the emotions of the old man. After looking at him carefully, I actually feel his sorrow (but don't know what it is about). His cane seems to be hanging on the side of one of the posts. I would personally prefer a more cropped and close-up shot but as you said, you did not get permission, didn't want to spoil the emotion and you were already shooting at 300mm, you probably just took the shot that you had at the moment. Good decision. You must have been using a tripod to have very little loss of sharpness at 300mm (although still noticeable). Anyway, to answer your first question, you already know that this is a candid shot and should be put into the Street and Candids category (not under portraits).

Hello Digisnap;

Thanks for sharing your views.
I do not understand why I loss some of the sharpness when I uploaded the picture to CS.
I did not use a tripod for the shot.
Here's the original picture, maybe you all can help to sharpen it a little for your taste.

[shinken]

Originally Posted by Silence Sky Hello Digisnap; Thanks for sharing your views. I do not understand why I loss some of the sharpness when I uploaded the picture to CS. I did not use a tripod for the shot. Here's the original picture, maybe you all can help to sharpen it a little for your taste.

I like this one a lot more than the first one u posted.

[Silence Sky]

Originally Posted by shinken I like this one a lot more than the first one u posted.

Hello Shinken:

Now, I wonder which picture is better in bringing out the emotion of the man?

[khairi]

can someone tell me why this shot/pict is called "stealing" as mentioned by Caspere?
I'm not picking on Caspere, but i've heard of friends and ppl who would
classify such pict as "stealing".
To me, if this shot is considered 'stealing', then i can say that photojournalist too 'steal'
to get picts?!?!? Bcos, at times, they cant be there in frt of their subjects, so they'd
use tele lenses.
To add on, i'd steal shots of family members who are unaware that i'm taking
their picts????

[digisnap]

Wow! The colored picture adds more to the story. I didn't know there was a cola fridge behind the old man (cropped out in the first pic). I like both pics and wouldn't want to chose between the two. Good job man.

[clubgrit]

Good work, but I like the colored one better, as it includes that Coke ad (machine), which adds to its seemingly rustic charm ...

[student]

Originally Posted by Silence Sky I guessed the Portraiture section is for the formally taken picture only.

I am afraid that I do not agree with that.

I will happily post this picture in the portrait subforum. This is clearly a portrait of an elderly gentleman.

And although I prefer B&W imageries, I think the color one works better here.

[Silence Sky]

Originally Posted by student I am afraid that I do not agree with that. I will happily post this picture in the portrait subforum. This is clearly a portrait of an elderly gentleman. And although I prefer B&W imageries, I think the color one works better here.

Hello Student:

I agree with you, but the rules in CS are very rigid, as this picture is moved to Candid from the portrait subforum without any explanation or notice. The tolerance level here is very low.

I have put up the both B/W and Colour. Could you and others please tell me your pick and share your views.

I have seen your 2006/2007 nude series. Nice