RECENT street stuff

I love the fingers and railing shot. The straight portraits are beautifully done too, but like Smeggy, I'm haunted by the little boy's expression.

Cheers guys

Agreed the boys expression makes the image

Actually his expression just makes a sick image worse.

But that's a compliment to the pic as you managed to capture it at the right point.

Don't give up the portraits, but please spend more time on wider and more diverse street scenes. those two pics show that.




btw - there's a local street snapper near me who took a load of street portraits in the 1980s. Thirty years later he's now tracking down the original subjects and snapping recreations in the same locations. Bear than in mind. Get names

I enjoy looking at your pics QC but I must admit I find the "human" part of the project title a bit misleading unless the vast majority of "humans" in your neck of the woods are all young adults / students preferably with fashionable hair and piercings. Don't get me wrong I can see why you would be drawn to photograph these photogenic and interesting characters, but maybe the title should reflect your very obvious selection of subjects.
Let's see some middle aged ugly obese unfashionable / ordinary humans, or be honest with yourself and change the title of your project. We all like to look at good looking people I am sure, but an accurate representation of humans anywhere? I don't think so.

Smeggy wrote...
The kid isn't happy and is obliviously going through the motions and has no idea of the sinister and serious veil of violence that surrounds this kind of thing.

Wow you really can tell a lot from a picture


All the best... Jim.

Yes you can. That's what makes an image powerful. Everything I've described that you have quoted is visible in the image. So while you can roll your eyes, personally I think such images are what photography is all about... capturing something that evokes a powerful response.

As for the rest of your post, I agree that QC is obviously drawn to attractive young ladies and while there's nothing wrong with that yes I'd like to see a wider range of "characters"

^ can't say I agree with your view, Smeggy. You can't read anything into that image- did QC startle the child perhaps, or did Dad just tell him to smarten up? Who knows.
But I sure don't know what "sinister and serious veil of violence" you're speaking of. Why would I, I only live here...

There's an element of interpretation in everyone's own response. I do find this type of 'documentary' style 'street' more involving than most of the headshot stuff. I can appreciate the skill in protraying more than just the moment snapped, and I tire rather quickly of seeing closeups of people I don't know, or will never know anything about.

Apart from some for some sort of commissioned project about an area, I can't imagine why anyone would want to keep a collection of such images for themselves.

[b]Smeggy's Quote [/b]personally I think such images are what photography is all about...
Oh Boy, I couldn't agree more!!!!!!! And no pixel peeping Shots like that ARE Photography - a record of the Human Condition. Keep at it QC.

A great response. Ty everyone.

As regards the point on the Humans in my series and their age and appearance. I've recently photographed some kinds and senior citizens. I must stress once again I've only been doing this a few weeks and my style is always developing.

How can one genre or style be more or less 'photography' than any other? Photography surely is the act & or art of recording a visual image with camera equipment? Nothing more than that. What you are saying here ISO really is 'that type of photography speaks most to me'.

My point above does not detract from the point of street portraits, nor Alistair's many good examples and his particular project. I am saying that for me I would value,and want to store for the future say, shots of local fields and hillsides I'd taken locally - more so than images of peoples heads who I don't know. For me shots like that ARE Photography

Regarding the parade image - its about how deep any personal interpretation goes ... is this a story about those things that Smeggy has referred to, or is it just a picture of some people in shiny uniforms walking along together?

The fact that 'that' image has invoked this discussion speaks volumes.

I do not agree with Smeggy's interpretation - nor would I expect to - it is his interpretation - not mine. That does not make Smeggy wrong or me right.

Equally - I do not agree with dpm that you can not read anything in to that image. You can't draw any conclusions but I think most people looking at it will read something in to it - rightly or wrongly.

For me - the attraction is that it simply is a thought provoking image - nicely done QC

Carl

Cheers Carl