Some pics i took over the past few weeks

[PLRBEAR]

My Imagestation Album

[sequitur]

that's all ?
thought there would be more

nice brutally honest street shots.

don't really like the mrt one
i think it's more of the framing that makes it a bit weird
perhaps a lower framing ?
or you shot from hip ?

[PLRBEAR]

Originally Posted by sequitur that's all ? thought there would be more nice brutally honest street shots. don't really like the mrt one i think it's more of the framing that makes it a bit weird perhaps a lower framing ? or you shot from hip ?

Yeah....shot from the hip.

The first picture i took. Man. This guy looked REALLY stressed. Didn't look like he got much sleep. So i thought with him sitting there, and the ad behind that says "My time", gave the picture its mood. It was his time to think, to reflect and to observe.

The second picture i took was this girl who was having an argument with her boyfriend over the phone. Reason why i took it at an angle? Slanted lines give a chaotic feel. Simple as that.

Third pic. Well....i was simply trying to capture what people do on the train. Reading the papers etc. What really stood out was the father and son looking at me. The train window gave the picture a second frame...sort of trapping the subjects into their own personal space. Everyone went about their business except the two of them. Their clasped hands also gave them uniformity. They were the same, yet different from the rest. The ads above everyone also say "Celebrate" and "Enhance your beauty". Were the people on the left celebrating? Don't look like it. As far as the dude with the bombastic hair on the right...he doesn't give two hoots about his hair. You get the idea.
Just started shooting street. More to come for sure!

[sequitur]

i suggest some edge burning on the MRT one to highlight what are the subjects you wanna bring out..

as for shooting street...

well
i personally (as of now) prefer to shoot with the viewfinder to my eye.. unless there's no time to bring it up.. or i'm shooting somebody that looks like he'll bash me up.. haha.

[PLRBEAR]

Anyone else have any comments? Suggestions? Does it work for you? If yes, why? If not, why?

[zaren]

good effort!

comments are as follows, with photo examples from street photographer richard bram's portfolio (hope u dun mind!);

pic 1 - there is scope to establish a stronger link between the poster and the man. e.g.



pic 2 - it's hard to see anything beyond the back of the woman's head. emotions between two people can be expressed more boldly. e.g.



pic 3 - the empty space in the window can sometimes be used creatively. a tighter composition might also be more effective. e.g.



look forward to seeing more of ur street shots!

[photobram]

I was doing a google search on myself looking for recent references, and saw that I had been referenced here. I'm flattered to be used as an example... I followed the thread, and saw the original three shots that started it. (I realize that as this was in January, this follow-up is a bit old) I'm going to be blunt, but in the spirit of helping anyone who wants to work in the extremely difficult genre of street photography.

PLRBEAR, after reading your comments on the pics, I have these notes, and one serious comment - all these photographs depend on your explanation of what was happening, as the story is not in your photographs. This is a problem. If it cannot be seen in the picture without your comments, as the poet Gertrude Stein once said, "There's no there there." All the viewer has is what is in the rectangle, no words, no background story.

Specific comments: #1 - There is no particular relationship between him and the sign; he's just a guy sitting on the ground. I do not see any heavy stress in his face. A picture made in the street is not particularly Street Photography. #2 - Angles and movement or not, it's just the back of someone's head, blurry. No picture there, nothing to connect with either visually or emotionally. If there had been an argument, it isn't visible or referenced in the photograph. #3 - People sitting on a train, looking at the camera on your lap while you are trying to be nonchalant about it. No picture here, nothing unusual or engaging. The signs in the background are too far away and faint to have any particular connection to the passengers.

Now before you get hurt or offended, I have taken LOTS and LOTS of photos just like these myself, but I don't let them leave the contact sheets. A long time ago a director of a museum who I was trying to impress (and failed) told me I needed to be a much harsher editor of my own work. At the time I was crushed, but I remembered his advice to this day. No matter what type of photography you do, the most difficult thing to be is one's own toughest critic. If it doesn't work, figure out why not, and try again. Look at the great photographers' work and try to figure out why their photographs DO work. Most of my photographic education was at the Library - it's free and easier to stare at and ponder than the Web.

Good luck to you and keep shooting, and keep editing.

[zaren]

Originally Posted by photobram I was doing a google search on myself looking for recent references, and saw that I had been referenced here. I'm flattered to be used as an example... I followed the thread, and saw the original three shots that started it. (I realize that as this was in January, this follow-up is a bit old) I'm going to be blunt, but in the spirit of helping anyone who wants to work in the extremely difficult genre of street photography. PLRBEAR, after reading your comments on the pics, I have these notes, and one serious comment - all these photographs depend on your explanation of what was happening, as the story is not in your photographs. This is a problem. If it cannot be seen in the picture without your comments, as the poet Gertrude Stein once said, "There's no there there." All the viewer has is what is in the rectangle, no words, no background story. Specific comments: #1 - There is no particular relationship between him and the sign; he's just a guy sitting on the ground. I do not see any heavy stress in his face. A picture made in the street is not particularly Street Photography. #2 - Angles and movement or not, it's just the back of someone's head, blurry. No picture there, nothing to connect with either visually or emotionally. If there had been an argument, it isn't visible or referenced in the photograph. #3 - People sitting on a train, looking at the camera on your lap while you are trying to be nonchalant about it. No picture here, nothing unusual or engaging. The signs in the background are too far away and faint to have any particular connection to the passengers. Now before you get hurt or offended, I have taken LOTS and LOTS of photos just like these myself, but I don't let them leave the contact sheets. A long time ago a director of a museum who I was trying to impress (and failed) told me I needed to be a much harsher editor of my own work. At the time I was crushed, but I remembered his advice to this day. No matter what type of photography you do, the most difficult thing to be is one's own toughest critic. If it doesn't work, figure out why not, and try again. Look at the great photographers' work and try to figure out why their photographs DO work. Most of my photographic education was at the Library - it's free and easier to stare at and ponder than the Web. Good luck to you and keep shooting, and keep editing.

welcome to clubsnap, photobram!

i think you are the first street photographer from in-public.com to post a message here, so this is a great day for all Clubsnap street photography enthusiasts. looking forward to seeing more of your street photos online!

[Minoxman]

Problem is most of the "Great photographer's work" don't work for many. So I say, post what you think is right/like and then when people like them, it's a bonus. You can't possibly change your style to suit the crowd can you? It's hypocritic;0
Why be so hard on yourself comparing with the masters. Just be yourself.

[zaren]

Originally Posted by Minoxman Problem is most of the "Great photographer's work" don't work for many. So I say, post what you think is right/like and then when people like them, it's a bonus. You can't possibly change your style to suit the crowd can you? It's hypocritic;0 Why be so hard on yourself comparing with the masters. Just be yourself.

minox... photography is also about sharing ideas. critiques may sometimes seem harsh, but if it gives additional insight and a valuable "outsider's perspective" to one's work, then it's not such a bad idea. of course, the photographer is not obliged to change his/her style to be popular or recognised. my philosophy is: "believe in yourself, but also allow yourself to listen to alternative viewpoints."

[Vynara]

...i love number #2, the one with the kissing couple. especially with the accompanying posters with the times (1:24 ; 1:26). I can't explain it, but it kind of gives me the feeling that time stood still for the couple in their kiss. lovely

[Minoxman]

Originally Posted by zaren minox... photography is also about sharing ideas. critiques may sometimes seem harsh, but if it gives additional insight and a valuable "outsider's perspective" to one's work, then it's not such a bad idea. of course, the photographer is not obliged to change his/her style to be popular or recognised. my philosophy is: "believe in yourself, but also allow yourself to listen to alternative viewpoints."

Trust me on this one Zaren, people will still shoot what comes to them instinctively no matter how much critiques they got from posting here or anywhere. The only change one would work towards to is when he/she tries to imitate someone's works he like, or when he/she is getting sick of his/her current shooting style and go for a different approach.
How much do you modify your style based on critiques honestly? I can tell you is Zero.
More for feedback than anything esle if you ask me.
Sorry OT.

[photobram]

Zaren, thank you for dropping me into this forum - it is stimulating. I probably will not check in too often - it's a busy time and I can't spend a lot of time online - too many exhibitions to get up and photographs to take.

Originally Posted by Minoxman Problem is most of the "Great photographer's work" don't work for many. So I say, post what you think is right/like and then when people like them, it's a bonus. You can't possibly change your style to suit the crowd can you? It's hypocritic;0 Why be so hard on yourself comparing with the masters. Just be yourself.

Minoxman, you have misunderstood what I said. I never said change one's style to fit the crowd, I said learn to be your own toughest critic so that your pictures get better. If the great photographers don't work for you, perhaps you are not working hard enough. I don't like all the 'great photographers' either - many do not work for me personally, even photographs from my favorites: Kertesz, Cartier-Bresson, Frank, Winogrand - but some whose work I like very much have taught me much through their comments on their own pictures, why they took them and so on, but as i said in the earlier post, the pictures worked on their own without the comments. Only by comparing yourself to the masters will you learn anything. There's a world of style and attitude difference among the masters old and new - at first glance, Winogrand and Kertesz have nothing in common. But I have been a working photographer for over 20 years, and when weird things happened in front of me while on a boring PR job, I realized where Winogrand was coming from. When I saw the couple kissing on the escalator last year while on my way to dinner, I had one frame and about 5 seconds to get it. I don't remember looking at the signs until I saw the contact sheet. I tried lots of similar photographs over the years, but only this one worked. Lots of others did not.

"Why be so hard on yourself comparing with the masters. Just be yourself." This is a slacker's attitude. If this statement makes you angry, more to the good. Only by comparing ourselves to the greatest can we strive for greatness ourselves. I did not say COPY - one can have any style in the world, one can be onesself - but it has to be good and one must not be easily satisfied. A comment like 'Cool - nice pic" means little - a careful longer comment, positive or negative will mean more.

Keep shooting, keep editing.

cheers,

Richard

[zaren]

richard, you're welcome.... any exhibitions planned for singapore?

minox.... it's up to the individual what they want to do with the feedback.

speaking of Kertesz, Cartier-Bresson, Frank, Winogrand et al, i can heartily recommend the book "Bystander - a History of Street Photography" by Westerbeck and Meyerowitz. it has excellent commentary and critique as well as superb street shots spanning the last 100 years. really a must-read for anyone interested in street photography!

[Minoxman]

I think most people post pictures which they know why they(the pictures) work for them and they might be just asking if others feel the same.
Some, however, are out to ask for ways to improve because they don't know what they like posted eventhough they shot them.
A thin line between showing to learn and showing to show.
There's a reason to every shot by anyone. I don't regard learning from the masters as a good way to define your style. It's just imitation IMO. But I do agree with the practice of see more, read more and shoot more though.

Feedback is always good anyways. That I semi agree.

[PLRBEAR]

Originally Posted by photobram I was doing a google search on myself looking for recent references, and saw that I had been referenced here. I'm flattered to be used as an example... I followed the thread, and saw the original three shots that started it. (I realize that as this was in January, this follow-up is a bit old) I'm going to be blunt, but in the spirit of helping anyone who wants to work in the extremely difficult genre of street photography. PLRBEAR, after reading your comments on the pics, I have these notes, and one serious comment - all these photographs depend on your explanation of what was happening, as the story is not in your photographs. This is a problem. If it cannot be seen in the picture without your comments, as the poet Gertrude Stein once said, "There's no there there." All the viewer has is what is in the rectangle, no words, no background story. Specific comments: #1 - There is no particular relationship between him and the sign; he's just a guy sitting on the ground. I do not see any heavy stress in his face. A picture made in the street is not particularly Street Photography. #2 - Angles and movement or not, it's just the back of someone's head, blurry. No picture there, nothing to connect with either visually or emotionally. If there had been an argument, it isn't visible or referenced in the photograph. #3 - People sitting on a train, looking at the camera on your lap while you are trying to be nonchalant about it. No picture here, nothing unusual or engaging. The signs in the background are too far away and faint to have any particular connection to the passengers. Now before you get hurt or offended, I have taken LOTS and LOTS of photos just like these myself, but I don't let them leave the contact sheets. A long time ago a director of a museum who I was trying to impress (and failed) told me I needed to be a much harsher editor of my own work. At the time I was crushed, but I remembered his advice to this day. No matter what type of photography you do, the most difficult thing to be is one's own toughest critic. If it doesn't work, figure out why not, and try again. Look at the great photographers' work and try to figure out why their photographs DO work. Most of my photographic education was at the Library - it's free and easier to stare at and ponder than the Web. Good luck to you and keep shooting, and keep editing.

Hey Richard!

Thank you for the comments. I see nothing to be offended about. In fact, the more detailed comments i get the better. I almost forgot about this thread already, but i haven't stopped taking photographs. Unfortunately, i haven't had the time to take more street shots since i started work. Funny thing is, i just left the company after realizing that i wanted to pursue photography professionally. It is the only way i'll truly be happy.

I'd also like to thank everyone else for their comments. I know that one man's food could be another man's poison, but it's always prudent to listen to someone else's perspective.

[pipefish]

Originally Posted by zaren richard, you're welcome.... any exhibitions planned for singapore? minox.... it's up to the individual what they want to do with the feedback. speaking of Kertesz, Cartier-Bresson, Frank, Winogrand et al, i can heartily recommend the book "Bystander - a History of Street Photography" by Westerbeck and Meyerowitz. it has excellent commentary and critique as well as superb street shots spanning the last 100 years. really a must-read for anyone interested in street photography!

OT: but the book "bystander" is available from the national library btw. I took it to China when I had a business trip and had a damn good time reading it.