Working the Street - Albert Complex, Singapore

[seefei]

Always love the bustling street activities between OG and Guanyin Temple near Middle Road.
Took this series of photographs with the theme of "working" at areas surrounding Albert Complex. I want to depict men and women plying their trades on the street. All photographs were taken with Pentax k100d w tamron 90mm lens.

All comments are welcome.

#01 Fortune Teller



#02 Parking Auntie

[seefei]

#03 Flag Seller



#04 Mooncake Seller



All comments are welcome.

[writing with light]

I like the parking auntie one. Hahaha. The guy has a slightly sheepish look that gives me the impression that he kena saman..

[milamber]

I like the mooncake girl. Looks like business is not so good!

[seefei]

Originally Posted by writing with light I like the parking auntie one. Hahaha. The guy has a slightly sheepish look that gives me the impression that he kena saman..

this shot has a happy ending. the man was let off with a warning as he was unloading some goods. the parking auntie was in good mood that day!!

[seefei]

Originally Posted by milamber I like the mooncake girl. Looks like business is not so good!

this stall was not doing well due to lack of customer service and incentive. i observed those stalls with mooncake tasting and big smiling aunties were doing roaring business.

[night86mare]

i do like #4 here, though i wonder what the frame would look like shifted downwards (rather than include "baker's cottage")

i'm not sure about #3, the expression is good, but i feel that the auntie should be given a lot more emphasis - even a half-body shot would be good. i understand that you might want to include the "crowd" but it leads to a very cluttered background, especially with the riot of colors, and perhaps this would be better in blackandwhite.

#2 is nicely captured too, maybe you could brighten up the photo using levels..

this seems more like the "recording" branch of street photography - i hope that's what you intend, because direction is important.

[seefei]

Originally Posted by night86mare i do like #4 here, though i wonder what the frame would look like shifted downwards (rather than include "baker's cottage") i'm not sure about #3, the expression is good, but i feel that the auntie should be given a lot more emphasis - even a half-body shot would be good. i understand that you might want to include the "crowd" but it leads to a very cluttered background, especially with the riot of colors, and perhaps this would be better in blackandwhite. #2 is nicely captured too, maybe you could brighten up the photo using levels.. this seems more like the "recording" branch of street photography - i hope that's what you intend, because direction is important.

sorry for the late reply. was outstation and comtemplating a reply.

#3 concur with you that the auntie should be given more emphasis. there was an attempt to cut off the lady with the bag on the right but didnt. thanks for pointing it out. B&W? nice suggestion.

#2 agreed. i overdone the brightness part when converting to b&w.

actually was trying to read up what you meant by "recording" branch but didnt have the time. there was no particular theme except as originally said. the photo were taken and the caption "fitted" in later.



i tried a street scene like the above and have a higher rate of viewing in my flickr account than the rest of the pic. I really dont know what to look out for in street photography but just trying as a newbie. or rather what work and what not.

can share again brother n86m?

[night86mare]

Originally Posted by seefei actually was trying to read up what you meant by "recording" branch but didnt have the time. there was no particular theme except as originally said. the photo were taken and the caption "fitted" in later. i tried a street scene like the above and have a higher rate of viewing in my flickr account than the rest of the pic. I really dont know what to look out for in street photography but just trying as a newbie. or rather what work and what not. can share again brother n86m?

recording is more of a "documentary" sort of approach. you shoot what you see, to remember, to show people. there is rarely much of a message. you just watch, observe and record.

everyone has a different approach to street, and that approach can change. it's really up to you, but i suppose people are more impressed when you have a story to tell, a slice of difference, something that has oomph. but broad appeal is not always the way to go, although it is really the way to gain attention quickly. the choice is wholly yours i feel, and there is no right and wrong, so long as attention is paid to detail and composition. recording snapshots are just as good as not shooting at all, if you catch my drift.

i like the latest shot, and i can see why people like it. it is well balanced, surreal but not overly so. i would darken it a little more, but that's really personal preference.

[wranger]

Loved the auntie and mooncake seller pic

[seefei]

Originally Posted by wranger Loved the auntie and mooncake seller pic

Thanks!

Here are more, taken at little india...


#01 Marketing on the eve of Deepavali


#02 Keeping Cool


#03 Staying Focus

[InspiredLives]

Hi , i am a newbie in photography. May I know if the picture background is auto blurred ? I love the way when u focus on the people. hahas.

[seefei]

Originally Posted by InspiredLives Hi , i am a newbie in photography. May I know if the picture background is auto blurred ? I love the way when u focus on the people. hahas.

Me too a newbie. Just got my camera in june 08.

the blur background is termed bokeh. you can have bokeh when you are shooting with the lens wide opened, eg at 2.8 or when you focus at nearby object with a zoom lens. hope that help.

PM me if you need to know more.