[stepheno]

Took this one in York last Saturday - I'm always up for people candids but willing to learn more. Any advice on how you might have approached this differently would be gratefully received.

[Dabhand16]

As a candid, where you have got the shot as an opportunist, I think this is excellent His expression says it all! A 'Chas 'n' Dave shot. Where's Dave when you need him.....?

Maybe that's who he is looking for.

[Rob Barron]

Definitely has that busker feel but doesn't feel at all cheery which is a shame. I know it's a record of what it was like that day but I'd like to see some real charcter coming out of the shot. The pianist seems a bit fed up with being there and isn't doing an awful lot to draw donations.

Good differential focusing to avoid the busy background clashing with the main subject but still leaving enough detail to see what is going on in the BG.

Cheers,
Rob

[skipper954]

Actually, I think that this captures a busker very well. At times the street musicians are bored and going through the motions, thinking about other things while hammering out a tune. So this is a perfect representation. And I really like the narrow dof. The whole image works very well in telling this man's story.

Candid shots, and particularly buskers are always a problem because the photographer must be really surrepticious. Buskers are there to make money, whether from their music or from people wanting to photograph them, and the few times I have done it, I always feel a bit uncomfortable sneaking a picture.

Of course, the other alternative is to listen to their music, make contact with them in some way, give them a little money and then ask if it is ok to take a picture. If one listens to the music, one should give a bit of money anyway.

Of course the picture has to be done a little later, unposed. But to my way of thinking, that is more genteel.

I will have to do that next time!

skip

[stepheno]

Thank you for your comments. When taking candids I do tend to be a bit "in your face" - just go in take the shot and leave. I find that one is far more conspicuous if you dither about wondering if anyone is watching. Most times it works for me - sometimes it doesn't like a time in the new Selfridges in Birmingham - I was escorted off the premises by two heavies.

In this instance I just walked up and took the shot, but I did leave 50p because I enjoyed the music.

[Markulous]

I like his look of pathos because it's not what you'd probably expect!

My first thought was to crop the top down to the dark figure on the left, but that would put out the aspect ratio - maybe just that bright sky patch? Whatever, I like the look of this!

[Angela]

He just doesn't look like your average busker does he!?

[stepheno]

Even the Big Issue boys, in York, look a cut above

[silver]

I like it,. you've def captured a moment and the expression and feel I think works

just to play



as for what could be done differently,. not sure anything,. in terms of the processing there's a kind of 'milky' look to the image which generally is lack of contrast,. then again perhaps I am too used to seeing over contrasted images!

Sil

[stepheno]

I like your crop and conversion, Silver - thanks for your contribution

[Boofers]

My 5 and 6 year old grand daghter's nick named there new baby brother Boofers, I herd that three days before I joined. I have never herd of a "busker",,I guess he is playing for money. His face convays that. or is he supposed to be cheerful? The two little lights in the upper part caught my eyes as soon as I looked at it. Very interesting picture for me, so as much as you could leave in the picture, like clone out the lights in the color version would be nice. Maybe a crop right above the orange sign. I like the color version very much.

[stepheno]

....and I like your comments, thanks very much Boofers

[Whipspeed]

I just love it, the expression, everything! Spot on candid photograph.