street photos - c&c

[mario abuyabor]

Hello all,

Below are some of my street photos taken in HK and Ho Chi Minh City respectively, I would like to ask for your honest critiques and comments about each of them basing on your standards for a good street photo, and also which of these ones best works for you, your feedback are much appreciated and they would help me improve my skills in this field, thank you so much.

1. Hong Kong Tram Driver

2. HK Passenger

3. HMC Resting

4. HMC Cyclos

5. HMC Alley

6. HMC Parking Lot

 

[gekopaca]

There is no one in the pictures, just people far away or back.
Are you afraid to shoot from the front, and closer?

You also need to tensions in the picture (something happens), a particular gesture, a glance, communication between people ...

 

[mario abuyabor]

@gekopaca - thank you for the feedback, not that I am afraid but rather I prefer shooting people in their most candid moment, my lenses are wide angle (21mm and 35mm) that is why it is quite difficult for me to get a front and close up shot candidly, below are some of the closest shots I get of people candidly. Will gladly take your advice:

 

[_larky]

Personally I find these images beautiful, especially the shots with the people in motion in the background. The single colour shot is wonderful.

I don't believe has anything to do with capturing tension, or movements, or anything between people. To say that is to say every landscape has to include a tree, nonsense. Street are pictures taken on the street which document the street.

Keep it up Mario.

 

[mario abuyabor]

@larky - thank you for the kind comment, appreciate it.

 

[gekopaca]

I prefer shooting people in their most candid moment, my lenses are wide angle (21mm and 35mm) that is why it is quite difficult for me to get a front and close up shot candidly

I clearly prefer those two shots; Actually I like very much the first one, it's a very strong picture, congratulations!
I think you can have candid shots even with ultra-wides : here some of mines (12mm + R-D1):

 

[_larky]

Nice shots Gekopaca. I agree, candids can be done with wide lenses. I have a 10mm I use, although it can be dangerous. I smacked a girl in the face with it because I forgot that she would be right in front of me.

In fact I may go out this weekend with it.

 

[dof]

I like the "HMC Resting" image very much. The still figure in the foreground balances the blurring of the moving vehicles in a way that gives a sense of what it might have felt like to be there.

To me, that is a large part of what makes a successful photograph - placing the viewer at the scene, regardless of what the scene may be.

 

[FrankS]

"Resting" is by far my favourite. The static figure in the foreground with the motion blur behind the resting figure is an effective juxtaposition.

 

[lynnb]

Another way to improve your street photography is to learn from good examples - and then go out and experiment with those techniques. There are excellent street photographers with a range of styles e.g. have a look at RFF member yanidel's blog http://blog.yanidel.com/

I liked the second batch you posted and also image 3 HMC resting.

The street is a live theatre of life. To me a good street photo is usually an interesting viewpoint or comment. It provokes a response in the viewer - whether that is emotion, entertainment or food for thought. I keep an eye out for human interest stories, humour, decisive moments and graphic design.

Also when you're out shooting consider whether to think/compose in colour or b&w.

 

[Out to Lunch]

My comments similar to gekopaca's: street photos with subjects with their backs to you perhaps less interesting. The shot of the lady in the paddle boat and the one in the subway...more like the physical space confined you instead of you making an effort to 'getting close' ;-) I see that your Vietnam pictures mostly shot 'on the tourist trail' -yep I do recognize Nguyen Hue Blvd and the paddle boat on the canal in Phoenix Island. Overall I like the low-light pictures the best. Cheers, P

 

[shimokita]

re: HMC Resting... yes this is very nice and captures some of the vibrancy of the city. I have also seen "this image" done in a different way where you pan with the street movement and show the individual at rest as a blur... It's also about having fun and showing things with a different twist.

All in all, some wonderful images. I don't mind with or without people, but there should be a point to the image that also captures some of your "vision".

Great locations, also prefer the b&w look...

Casey

 

[MC JC86]

I like them. The color one is especially special.

I get the sense that a few of your B&Ws would probably look great as prints a little larger, as well. The motorbikes in motion with the gentlemen in the foreground still is awesome, and looks great by itself view large. Thanks for posting.

 

[d_ross]

I agree I like the colour one as for me it gives a sense of how it feels to be there.
Could I suggest you ask yourself, what is the story I am trying to tell with my street photographs? or even ask, am I photographing in the street or about the street? For me street photographs need to have narrative, they need to convey more than just what it is in the street. How one goes about this is personal and depends totally on how one responds to the street as an individual. It seems to me your pictures are more about what's in the scene than what's happening in the scene. all in all though they are good images, keep it up.

 

[mario abuyabor]

Thank you all for you feedback and comments, really appreciate them. I very much agree with lynnb and d ross, for me, I like to capture scenes which tells a story and show life in a larger context not just from what is happening in the particular setting:

 

[_larky]

I think I have seen maybe, 3-4 photographs that 'seem' to tell a story. My gut tells me that no photograph can truly do this, all it can do is show what's in the frame. We make up the story, and I think if you put 10 pictures up we could all make up stories, then be disappointed that the shot was a quick point & shoot and nothing was happening beyond what the pictures shows - not tells.

I'm with Winogrand on this one.

I like street shots not because they tell me a story, but because they document a very interesting and ignored aspect of most peoples lives and because there is always something to look at, no matter how dull the shot.

But that's just my opinion. 🙂

 

[mario abuyabor]

I do respect your opinion, for me and maybe for some street photographers, what makes the photo a success or a failure lies with how the viewer perceive the photo which is being presented and how it is interpreted, some may try to look for a story out from it and some may just be interested in the graphical presentation of subject viewed.

Cheers.

 

[d_ross]

I think I have seen maybe, 3-4 photographs that 'seem' to tell a story. My gut tells me that no photograph can truly do this, all it can do is show what's in the frame. We make up the story, and I think if you put 10 pictures up we could all make up stories, then be disappointed that the shot was a quick point & shoot and nothing was happening beyond what the pictures shows - not tells.

I'm with Winogrand on this one.

I like street shots not because they tell me a story, but because they document a very interesting and ignored aspect of most peoples lives and because there is always something to look at, no matter how dull the shot.

But that's just my opinion. 🙂

I would have to agree with you as I'm a big fan of Winogrand's work, but to me he tells stories like few others have ever achieved. The interesting and ignored aspects you mention perhaps are bought to our attention by the way he makes his pictures?