Forty winks

fingerz · 13-09-2005, 21:31

Ok, this was obviously a prime photo opportunity for someone keen on street stuff. But I really don't think I've made the most of it. The image doesn't stand out at all so I've obviously failed to take full advantage of the situation.

How could I have done this better? I'm asking mainly for composition type stuff but processing tips wouldn't go amiss either. I did try giving the curves an S shape but all it really did was amplify the reflections on his face and head.

Here's a link to a higher resolution colour version. Feel free to play about with it:
http://www.jameyhoward.com/filebucke...n_bk_hires.jpg

GfK · 13-09-2005, 22:43

It boggles the mind how anyone can get any sleep in KFC, with all those kids running about everywhere and screaming.

Decent pic.

CT · 13-09-2005, 22:57

I'm not sure why you're worried about the guy's shiney head?

It's not bad at all Jamey, but it's a guy asleep. He could quite easily be in an empty cafeteria though so it loses some impact. If you could have stepped back and included other people in the shot - diners and customers around him and this guy blissfully asleep, then the shot would have had much more impact. I think you've just missed emphasising that the guy is asleep in a very public place.

Props though for getting out there and actually doing it!

Gandhi · 13-09-2005, 23:37

^^bugger 'em

^^

Your best work on the street thing yet mate!

daveyuk · 14-09-2005, 07:43

I think you're being a little hard on yourself with this one jamey, as your B&W version works much better than your colour version as the red chairs do pull your eyes away from the sleeping guy.
CT has a point if you were just a few feet futher back it may of had more impact.
I think you've done well and top marks for getting out there and having a go.

14-09-2005, 08:08

Top banana chief.

I was at a local park type place with a lake with my wife and kids the other day and after walking around it, we got back to the car park, with each space facing out to the water. As we walked along the walkway inbetween the cars and the water, I noticed nearly every car had an elderly couple in it.....and nearly ALL of them were fast asleep. Would have been a prime opportunity for some photos, but I'm too gutless and wimpy to do it

With yours I think you've captured a goodun. The black and white definately works, as daveyuk says...the red chairs would distract. The way I try and view if a shot works in B&W is ...."If the colours are distracting, OR by removing the colours will emphasise something else, for example the lines in a face, the shadows of a building etc".

CT has a good idea, stepping back and seeing hustle and bustle around him would give him some 'depth' and turn a shot into a story. I must admit, stepping back would have been something I wouldn't have thought of either

Good call

KenCo1964 · 14-09-2005, 11:36

I like that too and would agree that it is the better of what I have seen from your street stuff. I think it is a nice clean, crisp shot (whatever that means). Nice.

fingerz · 14-09-2005, 15:33

Cheers guys.

Stepping back isn't something that occurred to me at the time. But the place was totally empty except for me and him so I wouldn't have been able to get anyone else eating. It's definitely a good tip though and I'll remember it for next time.

14-09-2005, 18:35

Even if you'd have stepped back you could have included more empty seats, which would change the picture yet again

fingerz · 14-09-2005, 18:43

True as well. Although I wanted to try to get some detail on his face (stubble etc - as it happened I didn't manage it) plus I had the 50mm lens on, which wasn't ideal for creating a feeling of space.

14-09-2005, 20:31

Plus you have the chance that he might wake up, wonder why some bloke in fancy trainers is shoving a camera in his face, and get a bit annoyed

(Which would have been the main thought running right through my mind).

fingerz · 14-09-2005, 20:33

I've got a secret desire to photograph someone getting really annoyed about me photographing them actually. I reckon it could work really well.

14-09-2005, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by fingerz

I've got a secret desire to photograph someone getting really annoyed about me photographing them actually. I reckon it could work really well.

Well if you want I can take the pictures while you poke someone with a big stick.

fingerz · 14-09-2005, 22:26

Heh. I mean someone actually looking down the barrel. I got close in Budapest when this guy suddenly flipped after I took his picture:

He was a 'tour guide' who kept going up to people and giving them this speech in really bad, broken English about how he would show them all the best bits of Budapest. No-one was interested but he kept pestering them anyway until they actually walked off. And even then he followed them for a good 20 metres, running in front of them so they had to change direction to get away from him.

Eventually he started his spiel on my mate and we were similarly disinterested. But I decided to take a picture as he had a lot of character. After I took the first shot he span to look at me and started saying (again in broken English, but I can't remember his exact words) stuff like "you must have broken the world record for stupidity" and "if you don't want to die you must leave this place now".

Then he started trying to grab my camera. That wasn't going to happen. I held it away from him, still taking shots, while keeping him at arm's length with the other hand. The shot above is one of those.

Warspite · 14-09-2005, 23:49

ROFL - he looks like some German Pawn Star

GfK · 15-09-2005, 00:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warspite

ROFL - he looks like some German Pawn Star

This is no time to be talking about chess.

Warspite · 15-09-2005, 00:23

I'll get my coat :coat:

milou · 16-09-2005, 08:35

Excellent 40-winks photo and especially the "if you don't want to die you must leave this place now" one!

13-09-2005, 21:31	#1 (permalink)
fingerz Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 790	Forty winks Ok, this was obviously a prime photo opportunity for someone keen on street stuff. But I really don't think I've made the most of it. The image doesn't stand out at all so I've obviously failed to take full advantage of the situation. How could I have done this better? I'm asking mainly for composition type stuff but processing tips wouldn't go amiss either. I did try giving the curves an S shape but all it really did was amplify the reflections on his face and head. Here's a link to a higher resolution colour version. Feel free to play about with it: http://www.jameyhoward.com/filebucke...n_bk_hires.jpg Last edited by fingerz : 13-09-2005 at 21:35.

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13-09-2005, 22:43	#2 (permalink)
GfK Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 861	It boggles the mind how anyone can get any sleep in KFC, with all those kids running about everywhere and screaming. Decent pic.

13-09-2005, 22:57	#3 (permalink)
CT Feet under the table Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Mids UK Posts: 3,500	I'm not sure why you're worried about the guy's shiney head? It's not bad at all Jamey, but it's a guy asleep. He could quite easily be in an empty cafeteria though so it loses some impact. If you could have stepped back and included other people in the shot - diners and customers around him and this guy blissfully asleep, then the shot would have had much more impact. I think you've just missed emphasising that the guy is asleep in a very public place. Props though for getting out there and actually doing it!

13-09-2005, 23:37	#4 (permalink)
Gandhi Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: bath, somerserset Posts: 966	^^bugger 'em ^^ Your best work on the street thing yet mate!

14-09-2005, 07:43	#5 (permalink)
daveyuk Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Berkshire Posts: 1,150	I think you're being a little hard on yourself with this one jamey, as your B&W version works much better than your colour version as the red chairs do pull your eyes away from the sleeping guy. CT has a point if you were just a few feet futher back it may of had more impact. I think you've done well and top marks for getting out there and having a go.

14-09-2005, 08:08	#6 (permalink)
Marcel Posts: n/a	Top banana chief. I was at a local park type place with a lake with my wife and kids the other day and after walking around it, we got back to the car park, with each space facing out to the water. As we walked along the walkway inbetween the cars and the water, I noticed nearly every car had an elderly couple in it.....and nearly ALL of them were fast asleep. Would have been a prime opportunity for some photos, but I'm too gutless and wimpy to do it With yours I think you've captured a goodun. The black and white definately works, as daveyuk says...the red chairs would distract. The way I try and view if a shot works in B&W is ...."If the colours are distracting, OR by removing the colours will emphasise something else, for example the lines in a face, the shadows of a building etc". CT has a good idea, stepping back and seeing hustle and bustle around him would give him some 'depth' and turn a shot into a story. I must admit, stepping back would have been something I wouldn't have thought of either Good call

14-09-2005, 11:36	#7 (permalink)
KenCo1964 Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Co. Durham England Posts: 1,069	I like that too and would agree that it is the better of what I have seen from your street stuff. I think it is a nice clean, crisp shot (whatever that means). Nice.

14-09-2005, 15:33	#8 (permalink)
fingerz Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 790	Cheers guys. Stepping back isn't something that occurred to me at the time. But the place was totally empty except for me and him so I wouldn't have been able to get anyone else eating. It's definitely a good tip though and I'll remember it for next time.

14-09-2005, 18:35	#9 (permalink)
Marcel Posts: n/a	Even if you'd have stepped back you could have included more empty seats, which would change the picture yet again

14-09-2005, 18:43	#10 (permalink)
fingerz Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 790	True as well. Although I wanted to try to get some detail on his face (stubble etc - as it happened I didn't manage it) plus I had the 50mm lens on, which wasn't ideal for creating a feeling of space.

14-09-2005, 20:31	#11 (permalink)
Marcel Posts: n/a	Plus you have the chance that he might wake up, wonder why some bloke in fancy trainers is shoving a camera in his face, and get a bit annoyed (Which would have been the main thought running right through my mind).

14-09-2005, 20:33	#12 (permalink)
fingerz Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 790	I've got a secret desire to photograph someone getting really annoyed about me photographing them actually. I reckon it could work really well.

14-09-2005, 22:26	#14 (permalink)
fingerz Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 790	Heh. I mean someone actually looking down the barrel. I got close in Budapest when this guy suddenly flipped after I took his picture: He was a 'tour guide' who kept going up to people and giving them this speech in really bad, broken English about how he would show them all the best bits of Budapest. No-one was interested but he kept pestering them anyway until they actually walked off. And even then he followed them for a good 20 metres, running in front of them so they had to change direction to get away from him. Eventually he started his spiel on my mate and we were similarly disinterested. But I decided to take a picture as he had a lot of character. After I took the first shot he span to look at me and started saying (again in broken English, but I can't remember his exact words) stuff like "you must have broken the world record for stupidity" and "if you don't want to die you must leave this place now". Then he started trying to grab my camera. That wasn't going to happen. I held it away from him, still taking shots, while keeping him at arm's length with the other hand. The shot above is one of those.

14-09-2005, 23:49	#15 (permalink)
Warspite Feet under the table Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Newcastle Sunderland Middlesbrough (UK) Posts: 1,736	ROFL - he looks like some German Pawn Star

15-09-2005, 00:23	#17 (permalink)
Warspite Feet under the table Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Newcastle Sunderland Middlesbrough (UK) Posts: 1,736	I'll get my coat :coat:

16-09-2005, 08:35	#18 (permalink)
milou Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 583	Excellent 40-winks photo and especially the "if you don't want to die you must leave this place now" one!