[lifethrualens]

on my HND photography course, we cover photojournalism in a big way, as you would expect, this is a shot i did last night, honest feedback please, contexual as well as technical cheers lee. Nikon D3, VR, 1/60,F5.6, 45MM, 2500 ISO, Handheld

[lifethrualens]

no feedback??

[Larne]

I like the faces and the action but overall it's a bit dark for me.

[fionaB]

yep i agree its too dark, looking at the level of light on the pillers it looks like the lighting was a nightmare.,
contextually im not sure what you want to hear, or what to say but if you hadnt said it was a protest I wouldnt have had a clue......... perhaps this says that the image itself isnt telling enough of a story?. however never having shot anything photojournalistic what would I know.. its only my opinion.

Fi

[lifethrualens]

there is more than meets the eye, i never said it was a protest, the image title is protest, the idea is to read the photograph, decode it, like you do technically, but contextually, the important thing is not what i want to hear, but, what you read with your eye, maybe im on the wrong site for this

[Charlotte]

I have to agree with Fiona

Originally Posted by lifethrualens

... maybe im on the wrong site for this

I'm trying to understand this remark

[Markulous]

I do get some impression of protest from the woman on the left (and the woman behind her) but it's slightly undermined by the woman looking directly at you. I'm no PJ person but wonder what a frame either side of this one might have looked like

[lifethrualens]

maybe this element of photography sall we say, is not what forums are geared towards

[stupot]

Originally Posted by lifethrualens

maybe this element of photography sall we say, is not what forums are geared towards

I don't agree with that, we see the whole spectrum of photography on this site. At the end of the day its in the critique section and as i have experienced sometimes a shot just isn't that good or well recieved!

Personally i have to agree with the shot being dark, the four women who you can clearly see are all wearing black which with no detail in those parts of the shot, it does get me thinking about the setting for this shot, where is it, whats it about etc.. and if thats what you were aiming for you succeeded in that.

[Charlotte]

I have to ask what audience this shot is intended for - general public or only other photojournalists (who have been educated to 'decode it correctly') If the former, then any forum should be able to give you the feedback you need. If the latter, then that tells me that photojournalists are very cliquey!

[fionaB]

well at the end of the day you asked for critique both technically and contextually, we say it as we see it here for the most part, I made the comment about what you wanted to hear as i wasnt sure what you were after but what i went on to say was not geared towards what i thought u wanted to hear...........not sure if that makes sense but it did when i said it to myself......... anyway, if you post something for critique its always going to happen that you get some comments that you would rather not hear....... it happens to each and everyone of us.
I think perhaps if you were more clear in what you wanted from people then you would get more definitive answers, after all, you did only ask for " honest feedback both technically and contextually", which is what you got.

Fi

[Chris H]

Firstly to me the two main characters are Men and not women.

They seem to be trying to make a point about their sexuality. The main tall slim character slightly to the right of centre is obviuosly trying to say " I don't care and sod you ", the centre character with the bag and sunglasses seems to be making a point verbally.

The two Coloured women one each side have an expression as if to say " tell it to someone who cares ".

The picture to me says we couldn't care less if your differant, who gives a damn.

Behind them is a woman who's very bright face seems to have an uncomfortable smirk as if to say " Your having a laugh, who wants to know ? ".

And yes I think the picture is also very dark and somewhat sinister.



As to my thoughts to your saying it's the wrong site, well my take is this.

I come here and many other sites for escapism, I'm a rubbish photographer eager to learn. I work hard during the day and come for escapism at night so if I don't critique it's because I prefer to sooth the mind and not tax it.

My brains too old for heavy critique

[the_frog]

If you want a reading of content, rather than technicalities, here we go.

The title hints at protest so we assume that's what's going on, but there are no visual clues; the content is defined by the title. Call it "Singin' in the Streets", for example, and suddenly it's a different picture. Beyond that, there's no tension here, no drama, so from a journalistic pov I think it fails to achieve its objective; the picture should paint a thousand words, not raise a couple of questions.

[lifethrualens]

How Can You Possibily Say It Fails In Its Objective, When You Dont Know What The Objective Was In The First Place, No Drama No Tension, Therse No Tension, But There Is Drama, You Are Reading Tooooo Much Into The Title, Its A Visual Language Thing, We See A Tin Of Heinz Beans, And We Expect A Certain Thing, This Image Is Questioning That Theory, These People Are Simply Singing In The Street, But By Adding A Simple Word, It Creates A Whole Different Image, And One That Would Not Have Got This Many Postings And Stirred Emotions.all From A Simple Word

[fionaB]

but you added the title deliberately then asked for critique, but without explaining what you wanted. This is not a psychobabble forum, its for critique on an image, if you wanted "good honest feedback" then i would humbly suggest that you follow your own suggestions and be honest in what you are asking for.

[lifethrualens]

LIKE I SAID, wrong place