These old man.

[lenson]

Hi, i want to show from this picture that the lives of people differ in greatness.
The poor old man sitting by the wall in the foreground shows a little of poverty while the other one reading newspapers in the background shows a kind of a well-of man.
I don't really know how to explain but i want to create the feel of the contrast between these two man.
C&C welcome on composition; use of B&W; title etc.
So can the pros out there give me come good critiques so that i could improve?

 

[tirimasu]

No contrast... Flat lightings...

 

[Mezzotint]

Hi Lenson, you have had certainly make a point there but with subtlety. If the old man reading is more well-dressed, then the contrast will be more obvious. Just my 2-cents worth of comment. Besides u've done a good job in cropping yr image in square format. For a moment I thought you made this shot with a TLR camera.

Well done.

 

[aselley]

I am not sure that the man with the newspaper really shows "wealth" rather I see an interesting shot that is simply "street photography". I would try to brighten the image a little to see if you could pick out more details of the guy in the foreground. The guy in the background is also quite blurred...which brings the focus back to the first guy rather than the comparison between them

I like the photo for what it is, but I am not sure it captured what you wanted.

 

[calebk]

This is great subject matter. It's a real pity that there is a lack of good lighting, and you have also shot the frame underexposed. Now, a large amount of the detail has been smudged because of that, dipping into the shadow area.

 

[lenson]

No contrast... Flat lightings...

But I thought it is a little over contrasted?

Hi Lenson, you have had certainly make a point there but with subtlety. If the old man reading is more well-dressed, then the contrast will be more obvious. Just my 2-cents worth of comment. Besides u've done a good job in cropping yr image in square format. For a moment I thought you made this shot with a TLR camera.

Well done.

Yeah, i've taken note on that. I also do hope that there would be a better dressed guy to widen the difference but i guess it can't be helped in street photography.
Thanks for your comment though and i shot it with the d300 not with a TLR camera. :bsmilie:

 

[lenson]

This is great subject matter. It's a real pity that there is a lack of good lighting, and you have also shot the frame underexposed. Now, a large amount of the detail has been smudged because of that, dipping into the shadow area.

Thanks for your critique. I'll work on that in the future.

I am not sure that the man with the newspaper really shows "wealth" rather I see an interesting shot that is simply "street photography". I would try to brighten the image a little to see if you could pick out more details of the guy in the foreground. The guy in the background is also quite blurred...which brings the focus back to the first guy rather than the comparison between them

I like the photo for what it is, but I am not sure it captured what you wanted.

Okay. It seems like i've over contrasted it too much, thus bringing too much shadows into the picture. I will improve on that.

 

[PyeeL]

About the 'wealth' part, I don't really agree. Maybe just educated, in the literate sense. However, I do see the difference in their lives, but minimally.
Yes, I feel that it's underexposed too. Too dark it is, can't see details on the faces. I believe emotions should be pretty important in a shot like this, especially if you want to show the contrast in their lives? What I feel could be better is that you could close down on the aperture size so that both subjects are in sharp focus.

Now, I've a doubt. It's said that flat lighting provides little contrast and little shadows. Contrast wise, I thought there is quite a substantial amount of it. How would that support the theory of 'flat lighting' in this image? Need some enlightenment on this.

 

[lenson]

About the 'wealth' part, I don't really agree. Maybe just educated, in the literate sense. However, I do see the difference in their lives, but minimally.
Yes, I feel that it's underexposed too. Too dark it is, can't see details on the faces. I believe emotions should be pretty important in a shot like this, especially if you want to show the contrast in their lives? What I feel could be better is that you could close down on the aperture size so that both subjects are in sharp focus.

Now, I've a doubt. It's said that flat lighting provides little contrast and little shadows. Contrast wise, I thought there is quite a substantial amount of it. How would that support the theory of 'flat lighting' in this image? Need some enlightenment on this.

I've taken note on that and brought out some light on the image so it wouldn't look so dark.
Is this better?

 

[Elgaris]

Looks better, I like the composition.

 

[HLZQ4]

Maybe it is just me, I kind of prefer the first photo where it is darker and gives the feeling of like a poor man sitting in a dark corner where nobody cares.

 

[pplneedthelord]

not sure whether anyone has mentioned this, but you might wanna crop off the top part of the picture since that space is not really needed?

 

[lenson]

Looks better, I like the composition.

Thanks!

Maybe it is just me, I kind of prefer the first photo where it is darker and gives the feeling of like a poor man sitting in a dark corner where nobody cares.

I see. I would prefer the darker one too where it shows a more 'solitude' type of feeling. But the second would be good too.

 

[lenson]

not sure whether anyone has mentioned this, but you might wanna crop off the top part of the picture since that space is not really needed?

So would this be better like that you'd said.

 

[pplneedthelord]

So would this be better like that you'd said.

i would suggest the 3:2 or the 5:7 crop will suit this shot.

 

[lenson]

Okay thanks pplneedthelord.
I'll note that.