Night Bus

sjackal · 20th August 2008

Nikon D80 with 18-135mm kit lens.

Bus was dark as usual and lighted by lights inside the bus. I was seated at the facing seats right front of the reading girl so I used the 18mm end, f/3.5, ISO1600, 1/15sec. Resized, despeckled and enhanced contrast in photo editor.

I wanted to catch the mood of the routine of going home on the bus at night. The reading girl and sleeping woman in the back, and the normal girl at the right makes a nice normal scene.

But unfortunately I had to shoot fast when the bus stops at red light to be more stable and didn't really check get the chance to adjust focus on the reading girl.

Do you think it still makes a good street photo with the lead girl out of focus?

calebk · 20th August 2008

I'd say it doesn't, especially when she dominates the frame so much.

sjackal · 20th August 2008

Originally Posted by calebk

I'd say it doesn't, especially when she dominates the frame so much.

Hiyah too bad... I'll try again next time.

supermengwei2 · 20th August 2008

Hi. My attention is drawn to the lady sitting just in front of the rear door. Having a large subject in front of your camera out of focus does not mean a bad picture. I'd say its interesting but there's a certain lack of emotion, either through the setting or facial expressions that gives this picture any punch.

sjackal · 20th August 2008

Originally Posted by supermengwei2

Hi. My attention is drawn to the lady sitting just in front of the rear door. Having a large subject in front of your camera out of focus does not mean a bad picture. I'd say its interesting but there's a certain lack of emotion, either through the setting or facial expressions that gives this picture any punch.

Thanx! I like to hear more opinions.

vonlichenstein · 20th August 2008

i'd have to agree with calebk, the out of focus girl really occupies too much of the picture, makes it kinda painful to look at. i get a slight headache staring at it.

I see what you're trying to convey though, and i think it would be better if there was a little more contrast. keep shooting!

sjackal · 20th August 2008

Originally Posted by vonlichenstein

i'd have to agree with calebk, the out of focus girl really occupies too much of the picture, makes it kinda painful to look at. i get a slight headache staring at it.

I see what you're trying to convey though, and i think it would be better if there was a little more contrast. keep shooting!

Yah I also giddy myself, have to try again.

kruger · 20th August 2008

My eye was drawn to the mirror instead. Besides the bus's internal lightings are on, nothing really depicts about the "night" mood. Maybe the title could be a simple, "On a bus".

night86mare · 20th August 2008

no, this is not a good standalone picture, for many, many reasons

first one that hits you right away is - much too cluttered, oof is another problem

but it *might* work as part of a series, maybe "strangers on buses".. so long as you don't end up getting photos of a auntie's handbag flying at your camera. consistency in the form of precisely oof people might send a message here about anonymity, etc.

sjackal · 21st August 2008

Originally Posted by night86mare

no, this is not a good standalone picture, for many, many reasons

first one that hits you right away is - much too cluttered, oof is another problem

but it *might* work as part of a series, maybe "strangers on buses".. so long as you don't end up getting photos of a auntie's handbag flying at your camera. consistency in the form of precisely oof people might send a message here about anonymity, etc.

Yah... maybe if the focus was on the reading girl then the background will be blur and not so cluttered.

As I had resigned to it, will try again when got the chance.

cheguthamrin · 21st August 2008

Perhaps - just perhaps, maybe, or what if...

that you could have the reading girl sharp focus, blurred background - bokeh - instead. With the title as READ; Anywhere. Will it give another perspective to the picture?

iamryansaw · 21st August 2008

hmmm yea i think the oof girl occupies just abit too much. and yes it's a little two clutterd. would have been alot better if it was taken in the center lane (between the two collums of seats). now that would have turned out better i think.

amosfoo · 21st August 2008

i dont mean to be rude, but there's no composition in your photo. too many things going on and no real focus. but we all start somewhere, dont we? keep on snapping..

you might wana check this guy out. really dope pictures of people on the tube.. very nice on the whole.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/junku-newcleus/

sjackal · 21st August 2008

Originally Posted by amosfoo

i dont mean to be rude, but there's no composition in your photo. too many things going on and no real focus. but we all start somewhere, dont we? keep on snapping..

you might wana check this guy out. really dope pictures of people on the tube.. very nice on the whole.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/junku-newcleus/

If I think the pic is good I won't be putting it up here for critique. When put up for critique, won't be afraid to hear comments because no matter how good you've done, still got people say bad, and no matter how bad you've done, still got people say good.

But isn't it so extra when the later respondents just echos the same comments the earlier respondents had said so many times.

Please kindly take a moment to read the whole thread.

vonlichenstein · 21st August 2008

Originally Posted by sjackal

If I think the pic is good I won't be putting it up here for critique. When put up for critique, won't be afraid to hear comments because no matter how good you've done, still got people say bad, and no matter how bad you've done, still got people say good.

But isn't it so extra when the later respondents just echos the same comments the earlier respondents had said so many times.

Please kindly take a moment to read the whole thread.

lol @ your last sentence. night8mare has an interesting idea, a series with an anonyminity theme. but still please let the oof person take up less of the frame, super giddy to look at.

i disagree with kruger, i think that the lights can add even more to the "night" part of the title. but there has to be greater contrast between the lights and the surroundings.

All my own opinion of course

so feel free to disagree.

calebk · 21st August 2008

Originally Posted by kruger

My eye was drawn to the mirror instead. Besides the bus's internal lightings are on, nothing really depicts about the "night" mood. Maybe the title could be a simple, "On a bus".

Originally Posted by vonlichenstein

...
i disagree with kruger, i think that the lights can add even more to the "night" part of the title. but there has to be greater contrast between the lights and the surroundings...

I concur with vonlichenstein - how can it be possible to even think that it is not night when there is zero ambient light coming in from the windows?

sjackal · 22nd August 2008

Actually I got another pic, but its not good as well. I hate the distracting metal pole, thought of cropping it out but due to the lady's gaze on the right whom's watching TV mobile so I gotta leave some space inbetween the right frame to look right.

Though I am wondering will it be a better pic than the first?

cheguthamrin · 22nd August 2008

Putting up the first pic is already drawing some helpful comments and critiques; putting up another similar, taken at the same spot doesnt make any difference already. Should be working on a fresh new setting based on the given tips.

Cheers~

vonlichenstein · 22nd August 2008

haha i'll just throw in my 2 cents worth since i'm bored at work. The second pic has a very bluish tinge to it, looks kinda strange. I *think* its the white balance? Also, there's too much head room, the vent on the roof of the bus is... unnecessary. The second picture doesn't seem to have a clear message. I prefer the first. Go shoot more! i like your last series better. (was it you with the street shoot at clark quay?

calebk · 22nd August 2008

Originally Posted by vonlichenstein

haha i'll just throw in my 2 cents worth since i'm bored at work. The second pic has a very bluish tinge to it, looks kinda strange. I *think* its the white balance? Also, there's too much head room, the vent on the roof of the bus is... unnecessary. The second picture doesn't seem to have a clear message. I prefer the first. Go shoot more! i like your last series better. (was it you with the street shoot at clark quay?

Blue cast should be from the conversion, not the camera itself. You can't have WB problems in the form of colour cast if shooting B&W.

TS, are you using the Gorman method of conversion?

20th August 2008	#1
sjackal Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,000	Night Bus Nikon D80 with 18-135mm kit lens. Bus was dark as usual and lighted by lights inside the bus. I was seated at the facing seats right front of the reading girl so I used the 18mm end, f/3.5, ISO1600, 1/15sec. Resized, despeckled and enhanced contrast in photo editor. I wanted to catch the mood of the routine of going home on the bus at night. The reading girl and sleeping woman in the back, and the normal girl at the right makes a nice normal scene. But unfortunately I had to shoot fast when the bus stops at red light to be more stable and didn't really check get the chance to adjust focus on the reading girl. Do you think it still makes a good street photo with the lead girl out of focus? Last edited by sjackal; 20th August 2008 at 10:44 AM.

20th August 2008	#2
calebk Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Clementi Posts: 10,476	Re: Night Bus I'd say it doesn't, especially when she dominates the frame so much. __________________ deviantART \| fotologue

20th August 2008	#4
supermengwei2 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Singapore Posts: 114	Re: Night Bus Hi. My attention is drawn to the lady sitting just in front of the rear door. Having a large subject in front of your camera out of focus does not mean a bad picture. I'd say its interesting but there's a certain lack of emotion, either through the setting or facial expressions that gives this picture any punch.

20th August 2008	#6
vonlichenstein Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pasir Ris Posts: 694	Re: Night Bus i'd have to agree with calebk, the out of focus girl really occupies too much of the picture, makes it kinda painful to look at. i get a slight headache staring at it. I see what you're trying to convey though, and i think it would be better if there was a little more contrast. keep shooting!

20th August 2008	#8
kruger Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tampines Posts: 894	Re: Night Bus My eye was drawn to the mirror instead. Besides the bus's internal lightings are on, nothing really depicts about the "night" mood. Maybe the title could be a simple, "On a bus".

20th August 2008	#9
night86mare Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: in your mind Posts: 19,331	Re: Night Bus no, this is not a good standalone picture, for many, many reasons first one that hits you right away is - much too cluttered, oof is another problem but it might work as part of a series, maybe "strangers on buses".. so long as you don't end up getting photos of a auntie's handbag flying at your camera. consistency in the form of precisely oof people might send a message here about anonymity, etc. __________________ Gallery \| Dreamscapes 09 Pentaxian 伪君子之所以更可憎

21st August 2008	#11
cheguthamrin Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 600060 Posts: 1,267	Re: Night Bus Perhaps - just perhaps, maybe, or what if... that you could have the reading girl sharp focus, blurred background - bokeh - instead. With the title as READ; Anywhere. Will it give another perspective to the picture? __________________ Already abused my D40 and D80 for my flickr

21st August 2008	#12
iamryansaw Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Simei Posts: 305	Re: Night Bus hmmm yea i think the oof girl occupies just abit too much. and yes it's a little two clutterd. would have been alot better if it was taken in the center lane (between the two collums of seats). now that would have turned out better i think. __________________ Ryanleica.tumblr.com \| M8

21st August 2008	#13
amosfoo Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 202	Re: Night Bus i dont mean to be rude, but there's no composition in your photo. too many things going on and no real focus. but we all start somewhere, dont we? keep on snapping.. you might wana check this guy out. really dope pictures of people on the tube.. very nice on the whole. http://www.flickr.com/photos/junku-newcleus/ __________________ Flickr.No.2

22nd August 2008	#17
sjackal Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,000	Re: Night Bus Actually I got another pic, but its not good as well. I hate the distracting metal pole, thought of cropping it out but due to the lady's gaze on the right whom's watching TV mobile so I gotta leave some space inbetween the right frame to look right. Though I am wondering will it be a better pic than the first? Last edited by sjackal; 22nd August 2008 at 09:58 AM.

22nd August 2008	#18
cheguthamrin Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 600060 Posts: 1,267	Re: Night Bus Putting up the first pic is already drawing some helpful comments and critiques; putting up another similar, taken at the same spot doesnt make any difference already. Should be working on a fresh new setting based on the given tips. Cheers~ __________________ Already abused my D40 and D80 for my flickr

22nd August 2008	#19
vonlichenstein Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pasir Ris Posts: 694	Re: Night Bus haha i'll just throw in my 2 cents worth since i'm bored at work. The second pic has a very bluish tinge to it, looks kinda strange. I think its the white balance? Also, there's too much head room, the vent on the roof of the bus is... unnecessary. The second picture doesn't seem to have a clear message. I prefer the first. Go shoot more! i like your last series better. (was it you with the street shoot at clark quay?