Frustration!

It was so frustrating. We were in a cafe in Barcelona and this guy was at the table opposite with his friends. He was waving his arms, raised voice wanting to smoke but couldn't. So expressive. Not much light this was ISO 800 f2/8 at 1/30th and what I did was rest my camera on the table propping it up with my wallet to aim at this guy and hope for the best. This was the only usable shot.




As I say VERY frustrating but I'm too shy and anyway I couldn't have hand held the shot to get it as sharp as this.

It is also heavily cropped.

Mike

Great capture Mike,

I like it. He almost looks like a puppet in a museum, like Madame Tussauds.
The grain adds atmosphere in this situation.
Small suggestion? Crop off the that piece of shoulder/sweater opposite of him. And off course it would look great in Mono too.(shhhhhhhh, don't tell Lenscape.)

Martin.

Good shot, have you tried it in black and white?

Cafe shots seem to lend themselves to the monochrome treatment.

Thanks Martin - I tried Mono and I wasn't so impressed but I'll look again. Ahh I'll try cropping the left edge and see how it looks. That hadn't occurred to me at all. I felt I needed something to anchor him on the left.

It's a pity about the other guy in the background. Gee this man wanted to smoke, he was fiddling with his cigarettes all the time I should be more blatant and just raise the camera and shoot. His pals would have noticed even if he didn't and I have no Spanish at all!

Mike

OK guys I took your suggestions on board but I think colour is better,




Mike

Sorry I prefer the Mono!

It appears less contemporary and more a study of frustration.

A better crop, Colour for me..

I think the crop is probably better but colour for me too.

Mike

I prefer the mono as the chroma noise effect is neutralised, leaving a more film grain-like effect.

That's true but I bet that noise ninja thing could sort it out.

Was having a play last night, just a quick bit of messing around.
Ran it through noise ninja .. think it actually looks better with the chap in the background and I quite liked the noise in the original.

Will take it off in a few hours.

The removal of the background guy has altered the shot somewhat, it now really is a study in frustration!

Nice one.

Mike interesting to see your work. From my POV you can leave it up I'm not bothered.

I think the guy in the background probably gives it more context though.

Mike

Reminds me of a Toby jug.

Nice.

G

I think I prefer the original, I thought about removing the guy behind but now I've seen it without I say keep him in.