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Hey,

It has been several months since I've been here and so I thought I'd give a look and see what's up. Here's a shot of a beautiful young lady sitting on a fountain bench after having visited the Provo Temple, Provo, Utah. Your thoughts are appreciated.

Interesting shot there, I like this photo.

Interesting shot, not sure I like the effect of the filtered bushes, while it softens the edges, it also adds a little more voyeurism to the shot (not that, that is necessarily a bad thing). I also feel the crop is a little too restrictive I'd like to see atleast a little more on either side.

dk - a very nice candid in the true sense of the word. The OOF leaves/branches add to the effect very nicely. The look on the young ladies face suits the space on the right and close left crop - well done

Thanks to all for the comments. I love shooting candids; "street photography" is my new passion. I understand there are some necessary precautions one must take when shooting subjects unaware; fortunately for me I have a press pass and can always whip that out to put them at ease. Thanks again.

dk wrote:Thanks to all for the comments. I love shooting candids; "street photography" is my new passion. I understand there are some necessary precautions one must take when shooting subjects unaware; fortunately for me I have a press pass and can always whip that out to put them at ease. Thanks again.

Hi DK,

I had a look at this image when you first put it up; now, having had another look I think I should add some comments. It might hurt a little!

This image might be an attempt at street photography however I strongly feel you have missed the mark. Technically the image is good and those out of focus bushes in the front not bother me... the effect it adds an interesting vignette to the image. What concerns me though is that this image really does not say anything; it is an image of a woman sitting on a park bench... so what. In the grand scheme of things it does not qualify as a street photograph, nor does it really qualify as a great portrait. This image is both passive and voyueristic.

Before you go making to many more street photos have a look at the works of some of the better street photographers, even if you have to go back to the founder of the genre, Bresson. There is more to the genre than just pointing the camera at someone and pushing the button; street photography is as much about context as it is content. Give people something to think about... add levels to the image... tell a story.

Another thing... don't use a press pass to someone at ease; most people would rather see a good photo. If you were to show the above photo to that woman (or any other woman for that matter) they would not be impressed.

Keep exploring street photograpy but for now I would be looking for some outside inspiration.

Antsl

Antsl, sir, although your critique has some validity, and I submit that your experience surpasses mine by several years, I maintain that this is "documentary or street photography" for the following reasons: 1. the image follows your own rule, and permit me to use your own words here, "For me the best photographs are always those that convince the viewer, both intellectually and emotionally, through the raw reality of a moment in time." This could not be more "raw reality". And even though your sentence is incomplete above, I believe what you mean by "convince the viewer" is that the image reaches in and strikes some familiar chord with that person at that time; it meets that criteria too. 2. Do I like the outcome of that moment and the image it produced, and do others? The answer is an unequivocal; yes. Therefore as they say, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"; everyone I've shown the image to loves it, including the young woman whose image I captured (I introduced myself to her after the fact and invited her to view the photograph online). And by the way, critiques should be constructive not critical and I believe yours to have been more of the latter. Lastly, Mr. Antsl, when you come down from your high horse you'll learn there are more facets to photography than what appeals to our own egos. It certainly takes more than ripping off the name of one of the world's greatest photographers (Ansel) to be like one.

with warmest regards,

dk