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Just one shot from a recent walk-around in the park... Im sort of getting more into street photography and developing more confident in holding a lens in front of strangers.

C&C Welcomed

Yi-p,

Marvellous.

But how would it look if you cropped it square? Kill the space to the left of the player on the left, and likewise the guy behind the player on the right.

Pull it tight to just the two combatants and their game board, and see how it looks.

I agree with Gary, square crop would make this shot have killer impact.
I like the high contrast treatment, when I think Chess I think Black and White and thats what your using the tell the story.

As suggested by Gary & Craig, the square crop



EXIF:
50mm 1/100 f/2.0 ISO400

Yi-P, I envy yours and others ability to shoot photos of strangers in public. I was at the Rundle Street markets a few weeks ago, and wanted to take a number of shots of 'interesting' people manning stalls, and I chickened out in the end.

Tomorrow is the Crows Nest Fair, and I will take the camera and hope I have the guts to take photos of people in a 'care-free' environment.

P

Reschsmooth wrote:Yi-P, I envy yours and others ability to shoot photos of strangers in public. I was at the Rundle Street markets a few weeks ago, and wanted to take a number of shots of 'interesting' people manning stalls, and I chickened out in the end.

I know it is hard to start up with, I was like that before. But once you get to know when you're supposed/allowed to stand and take a pic or when it is not, it comes much easier than you think.

People tend to be more 'self-defensive' then they are by themselves. But when there are many people surrounding them, their guards will be much lower.

A small cam body and a fast prime lens will do the trick pretty well. I dont suppose to aim somebody on their face with a 70-200/2.8 just 1.5m away...

Tomorrow is the Crows Nest Fair, and I will take the camera and hope I have the guts to take photos of people in a 'care-free' environment.

P

That is the perfect situation. When people are in a casual mode, party and festival events, their guards against photographers or people with camera is absolutely near zero. They all think or expect people taking picture around with cameras. Go ahead and shoot some people!! (with cam/lens ofcourse)

Yi-P wrote:A small cam body and a fast prime lens will do the trick pretty well. I dont suppose to aim somebody on their face with a 70-200/2.8 just 1.5m away...

Tomorrow is the Crows Nest Fair, and I will take the camera and hope I have the guts to take photos of people in a 'care-free' environment.

P

That is the perfect situation. When people are in a casual mode, party and festival events, their guards against photographers or people with camera is absolutely near zero. They all think or expect people taking picture around with cameras. Go ahead and shoot some people!! (with cam/lens ofcourse)

So, you have an 84, 1.5, yes? If so, you can drop it off in the morning.

Seriously, I may take just the 50 and the 17-35 and have a bit of fun.

P

I like the square crop compared to the original. It shows a more intimate setting and gives the feeling that the men are concentrating on their game to a point where they are in their own world.

Personally, I like the sharpness of the first photograph and I agree that the composition is very improved by cropping and accentuating the main subjects and leaving out what is not essential or distracting. I observe that the effect is similar to a digital zoom with the image being stretched and loosing some sharpness. However, the image overall has been improved and the choice of black and white gives it almost a timeless quality. I also would like to be able like you to to take photographs from strangers without upsetting, offend them, and without feeling I have somehow intruded in their privacy. Well done!

Yi-p,

I think that the square crop has nailed this one.

Out of curiosity, have you tried, using layers, to pull ...

a) a bit more detrail from the shirt of the gentleman on the left?

b) a bit more detail from the chessboard?

The board looks a tad blown, but I'd be interested to see what more could be done with this: I think that as good as this is, there's a couple more improvements that you wrangle from within it.

gstark wrote:a) a bit more detrail from the shirt of the gentleman on the left?

b) a bit more detail from the chessboard?

Did a little quick play on selective leveling/curves.



What do you think? Still too dark or blown out?

Nailed it!

Great picture Yip; its awesome to watch the image develop as people throw suggestions at you too.

Well done Yi-P. The last one is relly good. Like the square crop - seems to hold your attention to the main characters much better.
Cheers, Mick

Thanks all again for the suggestion and comments

Much appreciated