During a recent visit to Boston I set myself a challenge of adding street shots to my portfolio. I'd love to hear feedback from the community on what you like, don't like and how images may be improved.
ALL feedback is welcomed (good or bad), from novice or seasoned street photographers alike. If you have a set of eyes and an opinion you are certainly qualified to express your reactions.
For me there are two main styles of street...
1. Arty - these are compositionally interesting images that focus more on the environment and use people as props. Their subject is the colour or geometry, play of light and shade..... see http://media3.artspace.com/media/fan_ho/approaching_shadow/fan_ho_approa... as an example.
2. People - Shot of people in their environment that capture an interesting action, reaction or interaction - "the decisive moment" as it's often referred to, which hopefully tells something about their life or cause the viewer to ask questions.
For me your images fit the latter of the two but lack a decisive moment.
Image 1 - What is the message here? A commentary on the prevelance of mobile devices? It's been done to death and there are better/more interesting ways to do it. Compositionally the image also suffers because there is poor subject/background separation (man blends into the shadow of the corner) and the light "pathway" on the ground leads the eye past the subject to the white hydrant cover. (Lighter objects/areas of an image attract the eye).
Image 2 - It's probably raining. Image 3 - two indistinct people going somewhere. For me they both lack a decisive moment and lose a lot of power as the woman has her back to us and the two people are small and indistinct.
The area looks like it could be good for some more arty shots. get down low close to the steps or up high... of just get closer to the people and wait for that decisive moment.
Thanks Dan, all good comments and on the whole I agree.
Th first caught my eye due to the stark contrast and backlighting - the mobile phone is incidental to this.
I actually hung out at the 2nd location for some time waiting for the decisive moments you indicate. Unfortunately there was not a lot of activity that day so these are the best of a sparse bunch.
That said I actually still like these (at least the last two) - perhaps not killers but for me offer something to the eye.
I do appreciate and respect your feedback and will take that into account moving forward.
PS - I am familiar with and a fan of the work of Fan Ho - yes, I agree that is an ideal we should strive for.