First documentary "project" - Feedback please!

[jbot]

I've been shooting street photography for a while now, and have noticed that while I love it, it can be difficult to really work on composition, and think through shots. This is simply due to the fact that everything is moving so quickly, and you don't often get a second chance.

So I decided to pursue candid photography through a different method, I've started a project titled "Days" where I photograph a subject for a full day. They do what they usually would, and I follow them around and document it. It really helps me to work on composition, while at the same time allowing me to continue shooting candid.

This is the result of "Day 1: Megan", the first Days shoot. I'd love to hear some feedback, criticism or suggestions for improvement.

All 10 photos can be found here: http://jaredk.ca/days.php

 

[35photo]

I've been shooting street photography for a while now, and have noticed that while I love it, it can be difficult to really work on composition, and think through shots. This is simply due to the fact that everything is moving so quickly, and you don't often get a second chance.

So I decided to pursue candid photography through a different method, I've started a project titled "Days" where I photograph a subject for a full day. They do what they usually would, and I follow them around and document it. It really helps me to work on composition, while at the same time allowing me to continue shooting candid.

This is the result of "Day 1: Megan", the first Days shoot. I'd love to hear some feedback, criticism or suggestions for improvement.

All 10 photos can be found here: http://jaredk.ca/days.php

I think your images are excellent! The compositions are really really strong, they a story really well....I would say keep the editing tight and stay consistent...This doesn't look like a first time effort to me at all...Seriously some the the best work I've seen on this site... Your on the right track keep it up!

Marko

 

[dct]

I've been shooting street photography for a while now, and have noticed that while I love it, it can be difficult to really work on composition, and think through shots. This is simply due to the fact that everything is moving so quickly, and you don't often get a second chance.

So I decided to pursue candid photography through a different method, I've started a project titled "Days" where I photograph a subject for a full day. They do what they usually would, and I follow them around and document it. It really helps me to work on composition, while at the same time allowing me to continue shooting candid.

This is the result of "Day 1: Megan", the first Days shoot. I'd love to hear some feedback, criticism or suggestions for improvement.

All 10 photos can be found here: http://jaredk.ca/days.php

Good idea. Only a few repeating subjects (stockings/shoes) did irritate me a little bit looking through the series. Images 8 and 9 are my favorites! 🙂

 

[jbot]

I think your images are excellent! The compositions are really really strong, they a story really well....I would say keep the editing tight and stay consistent...This doesn't look like a first time effort to me at all...Seriously some the the best work I've seen on this site... Your on the right track keep it up!

Marko

Wow! Thanks a lot 😀!

Good idea. Only a few repeating subjects (stockings/shoes) did irritate me a little bit looking through the series. Images 8 and 9 are my favorites! 🙂

Yeah I was thinking about that. I think for the next one I'll try and avoid that. Cheers!

 

[skibeerr]

Good work, I felt a story evolving and you leave space for imagination, suggest rather than hammer it in.

Wim

 

[jbot]

Good work, I felt a story evolving and you leave space for imagination, suggest rather than hammer it in.

Wim

Thank you!

 

[Beach_Bum]

Good idea. Only a few repeating subjects (stockings/shoes) did irritate me a little bit looking through the series. Images 8 and 9 are my favorites! 🙂

Agreed about the repeating subjects, but overall very, very nice!

 

[blue4130]

Nice images. They have a good composition and what not. What is lacking though is the narrative. Where are the words? Other than being the same girl, I can't really tell what the story is here. Is she a shoe-a-holic? Is she a seamstress? Is she a makeup artist? It'd be cool to have some captions to go with these.

 

[Black]

Jared - its a really nice series. Compositionally excellent. But I feel the size of the preview thumbnails on your (nice) site, doesn't really do your work justice. Bigger is sometimes better 😉

 

[BlackXList]

I think a little info about Megan would have helped to put the images into perspective for a lot of viewers, and would start to make the reasoning behind your shot choices much more transparent.

I'm inferring from the shots that she works in a vintage store? or in wardrobe at a theatre? this would explain the shoes and racks of clothes, and in doing so give some significance to the settings/situations, and maybe more of an insight into her day.

it doesn't need to be her life story, just enough information for the viewer to hang a context on so that I know which elements of shots, and which happenings in the day are significant.

I kind of liked the repeated shots, if she does work in retail, or in wardrobe, then she's probably on her feet a lot anyway, and it could be a nice touch to have a recurring motif to reference to visually separate the different parts of her day, and to illustrate just how much time she spends on her feet.

The biggest question I'm left with after looking at the shots is what happened after the last one, it seems thats she's involved in preparation for a performance of some kind, but I have no other information.
Even if she isn't a part of the performance, it would be nice to have some more information, (not necessarily stage shots) but at the moment it feels like we joined her first thing in the morning and left about 8pm while she was preparing for something, and I'm left waiting for the rest of the information.

I hope that didn't sound too negative, because I enjoyed looking through them, and I think there's some really nice shots in there, and I look forward to seeing more

 

[jesse1dog]

I really enjoyed looking at these photos - I doubt there is a dud shot and although some are better than others it's a good 10 shots - wish I had taken quite a few! And I agree with other posts, I don't see a story line. Now maybe there isn't one, there wasn't one in mind, and you have 10 shots of Megan through the day. Fine. I suspect that 10 shots isn't enough for 'A day in the Life of Megan'. Just suppose you had 10 shots taken at an hourly interval through the day! Or a nunmber of shots taken at equal intervals during the day! Or some other sort of planned structure to the shot taking!
I don't have to know who Megan is because that is something of the 'ambiguity' that you hope comes over in the collection. I might be curious, but that doesn't matter because you have captured my interest.
Incidentally you don't have to do people for a day, you could equally well do a place or location, but perhaps that's another project for another time!
It's a great project that you have. Day one is quite splendid - day two will be even better.

jesse

 

[jbot]

I hope that didn't sound too negative, because I enjoyed looking through them, and I think there's some really nice shots in there, and I look forward to seeing more

Not to negative whatsoever. It's very helpful. Thankyou for writing that up. I will be keeping some of what you've said in mind, I think i'm going to push to have a better "story" in my next ones and maybe consider interviewing subjects or adding captions, something to help the viewer along.

Cheers!

I suspect that 10 shots isn't enough for 'A day in the Life of Megan'. Just suppose you had 10 shots taken at an hourly interval through the day! Or a nunmber of shots taken at equal intervals during the day!

Thanks for the response Jesse! The reason i went with 10 shots is to challenge myself to be able to describe this person through less photos rather than more. I'm hoping the project will help me to do this better in the future.

Appreciate you taking the time to respond!

 

[daves]

OK, firstly I would take issue with anyone saying that captions would improve this work. They wouldn't and photographers shouldn't fall into the trap of captioning images in order to create a narrative.

Captions help a good photoessay, but they should only be needed to give details (names, locations, ages, background information, bigger-picture facts etc), not to explain what the story is. If you can't tell what a photostory is about from images alone, then you need to go back to the drawing board.

Technically I think these images are OK (some nice use of light, some interesting compositions) and I'd say that the photographer has some potential. However, I really don't know what the story is at all, or even if there is a story worth telling in either of the edits I looked at.

The idea of following someone through their day is a nice one, but a day isn't very long at all when it comes to developing a comfortable working relationship with a subject. You might be better off spending longer with subjects so they get used to you being there and so you gain a deeper understanding of the rhythm of their lives.

There were definite glimpses of that in both essays, but not really enough for them to function as effective documentary projects.

If a day is all you can afford to spend with each subject (and sometimes it is - I certainly remember how hard it was to find time for documentary projects when I was earning a living doing things other than photography), then it might be better to work with people with more obviously "interesting" lives. At least that way you'll be able to create a story in a short time.

Hope that's helpful and keep shooting. For a first stab at documentary work this is really not bad at all!

 

[segedi]

What daves said.

 

[clayne]

When the photograph is solid, words only help to elevate it. Lack of words are not better off and I can think of more than a few photographs where the actual description of what's occurring goes hand in hand with the photograph. It's not really about what the viewer's idea is of things - it's about being accurate. Now given the absence of any real background or story then yes words are not always necessary - and when added they may come off as artificial. But whenever I encounter it, the whole "stream of consciousness" wordless photo-essay concept (especially when words would help) always comes off as being excessively clever to me, dare I say - smug.

 

[daves]

When the photograph is solid, words only help to elevate it. Lack of words are not better off and I can think of more than a few photographs where the actual description of what's occurring goes hand in hand with the photograph. It's not really about what the viewer's idea is of things - it's about being accurate. Now given the absence of any real background or story then yes words are not always necessary - and when added they may come off as artificial. But whenever I encounter it, the whole "stream of consciousness" wordless photo-essay concept (especially when words would help) always comes off as being excessively clever to me, dare I say - smug.

Not saying you shouldn't have captioning, just that it should be a secondary part of the essay and that you should be able to follow the essay and understand what it's about without words.
In fact, I'd go as far as to say that if you can't at least grasp the basics of the story without captioning, then you'll probably be wasting your time writing them. Far better to use that time and energy shooting smarter, more illustrative images.
As a beginner the original poster would do better to concentrate on telling a story visually and tightening up his shooting and editing than trying to write a narrative. I'm sure he'd agree, too. After all, he has asked for a critique of his photography.

 

[cepwin]

I have to agree with the others. There is clearly a story evolving and you had some strong images there. Nice work! I would replace the first image of her feet and one of the other feet images (I couldn't decide which one) with something that makes it clear what she's doing at the end. (I found myself asking 'is she a playboy bunny? an actress? or perhaps a wardrobe mistress for a production? It wasn't clear to me.) Another image or two at the end should tie it up nicely (her on stage or watching the production from backstage?) Hope this is helpful!

 

[jbot]

Not saying you shouldn't have captioning, just that it should be a secondary part of the essay and that you should be able to follow the essay and understand what it's about without words.
In fact, I'd go as far as to say that if you can't at least grasp the basics of the story without captioning, then you'll probably be wasting your time writing them. Far better to use that time and energy shooting smarter, more illustrative images.
As a beginner the original poster would do better to concentrate on telling a story visually and tightening up his shooting and editing than trying to write a narrative. I'm sure he'd agree, too. After all, he has asked for a critique of his photography.

Some solid advice you've given me Daves. I'm think I agree with you regarding captions. I've always felt that if something needs to be captioned it could have been photographed better. I think the trap I fell into with these two was the fact that I went into them thinking about photography rather than storytelling. But my viewers see storytelling first and photography second. It's exactly things like this that I was hoping to learn by undertaking this project.

I appreciate your feedback. I hope to do a few more of these and would like to see myself improve photographically and directionally throughout the bigger scheme of the project.

Thanks again for taking the time to write. Cheers.

 

[boomguy57]

If this is really your first try, then the sky is the limit. Well done, and keep them coming. You have a good eye.