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Submitted: May 26, 2009
Image Size: 3.7 MB
Resolution: 3830×2645

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Comments: 51
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Make:SONY
Model:DSLR-A350
Shutter Speed:1/200 second
Aperture:F/9.0
Focal Length:55 mm
ISO Speed:400
Date Taken:May 24, 2009, 5:21:20 AM

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Burning Canby +spyed

Photography / Street

I learned a lot about photography via this photograph and that is why I'm posting it.

You're sitting at a cafe in Warsaw, and across from you a garbage can catches and fire presumably from a cigarette someone ashed out in it.

You pop up with your camera head to the curb to document this event. First error. You have got to be descreet, otherwise people are aware of you and are not acting as naturally, drastically reducing the chance that you get the natural brilliant shot you're aiming for.

After a while of sitting there you begin to conceal because people who saw you move in to position have since left. I got a little lucky because the trash kept burning and people kept walking right on by. Who could have expected apathy aroun this subject.

Even so, I took easily 50 photographs in this series, and I still don't feel I captured the right moment. I looked through the photos 20 times thinking I had nothing, until I noticed this man on the right who captured the bad smell with the expression on his face. But the angle on the second guard sucks and her face was priceless in some of the other shots.

I didn't get the right angle, I didn't get the right moment, even though I took lots of shots.

I should have kept my eyes out of the camera, focusing on predicting the elements around me and awaiting to take five total shots rather than being snap happy and not catching anything meaningful.

But I learned. And I found an opportunity with subject matter interesting enough to learn from. And that feels great.

Shred me! LOL

And `cweeks dude... thanks!

Critique by ~KissMyHuman May 26, 2009, 11:49:34 PM

A little Angelo on Angelo action. In college I was a big street shooter. You'll find a lot of different schools of thought as far as how to capture street scenes. Do you sneak a shot? Do you get in there and hope people act natural by using a more discrete camera? Or do you let people know you're there and decided the most natural reaction is there reaction of the situation as a whole, including you with a camera in their face. As you shoot more street stuff, you'll figure out what you're most drawn to.

Lets break down this shot. First thing I notice is the man dumping water into the trash can because it's in the center of the photo, then I read to the right because there are light details against a dark background. This reveals people unphased as well as a man who is watching the action. I then read back to the left where I see the police in complete bewilderment over what is going on. You have this dynamic action in between people who don't know what's going on or don't care. There is a lot of conceptual contrast there.

Technically speaking the photo is pulled off very well. It's framed very evenly and has tonal contrast between the background and foreground. The only thing I'll knock you on is your choice of aperture. A little shallower depth of field would have cleaned up the background. Once you get deeper than the lady to the right of center, the rest of the detail could be knocked out without much consequence.

What do you think?

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Critique by ~HayleyW May 26, 2009, 10:58:56 PM

This may not be the perfect shot you wanted, but it still captures an interesting scene. A picture can tell a thousand words, this to me tells a story of just how apathetic others can be towards community problems. Many have walked past, and it's obvious by this mans expression acknowledged it, yet no one has the time to stop. It's a shame you can't see the police officers and the man in the flannelette expressions. I imagine the would be either a nice contrast or confirmation of this fact.

I like the balance of tones here, it doesn't look too exposed but it's also not overly dark which gives this an almost a wintery feel. However it could interesting to view this with some colour also. Although this does abide by the rule of three it would be interesting to see this shot with the action placed to one side rather than centered, we might have seen more reactions this way and it makes your eyes move across the piece.

Finally I'd just like to say I can imagine this on my wall and will do when I have sufficient funds, thank you for sharing!

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~Lancus May 23, 2011 Hobbyist Digital Artist

vis a vis my school xD

~MT-000 May 18, 2011

Actually the man on the right looks like he is the pyromane and he's very proud of him. Ahahah

=Yoh-Boo Oct 17, 2010 Hobbyist Photographer

Many wouldn't have thought to take a picture of this, great job

I've featured this photograph in my streetlife journal [link]

~Braja69 Aug 15, 2010 Hobbyist Digital Artist

It is thought provoking and has nice contrast

~unnoticeable-me Sep 26, 2009 Hobbyist General Artist

I really like the picture

And I'm very happy that people from across the ocean come to visit my country too

~TheFastFiduciary Aug 22, 2009 Student Photographer

haha nice shot

lol it tells a story, thats why i love black and white

Color is a big ass part in photography XD

*oO-Rein-Oo Aug 12, 2009 Photographer

I love what you wrote here and also the pic

`agorf Jul 20, 2009 Hobbyist Photographer

Thanks for the advice.

I like the shot, especially since this is B&W.

~TheShadowMachinery Jun 3, 2009

Very interesting comment, thank you for describing the process.
And I like this photo. Somehow those cops look kinda comical even with their faces not being visible: something in their poses as they seem to curiously stare what this guy is doing.

~Slayer-1412 Jun 2, 2009 Student General Artist

live and learn

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