My try at Street Photography - Human Candle?

[gluwater]

There were a bunch of street performers lineing Michigan Ave along Millenium Park. This guy just seemed to be the most entertaining especially when he was taunted by this kid. Tell me what you think of the shot please.

http://gluwater.smugmug.com/photos/30467426-L.jpg

Nick

[JamesJWeg]

Cool, looks like he just scared the kid good.

James.

[gluwater]

The kid was taunting him and he got him good. I have a sequence I'll post a little later, I'm at work now and can't get to it. Thanks for the comment:D

[gluwater]

Here is a sequence of the kid and performer. It was kinda funny.

http://gluwater.smugmug.com/photos/30467775-M.jpg
http://gluwater.smugmug.com/photos/30467426-S.jpg
http://gluwater.smugmug.com/photos/30468366-S.jpg
http://gluwater.smugmug.com/photos/30468623-S.jpg
http://gluwater.smugmug.com/photos/30468843-S.jpg
http://gluwater.smugmug.com/photos/30589621-S.jpg
http://gluwater.smugmug.com/photos/30590573-S.jpg
http://gluwater.smugmug.com/photos/30590671-S.jpg

Hope you like it :D

Nick

[Aaron Bernard]

Good subject matter! Shooting at a larger aperture would give you some separation from those two and the background (blur it out a bit). Just to help them stand out against the background.

[gluwater]

Good subject matter! Shooting at a larger aperture would give you some separation from those two and the background (blur it out a bit). Just to help them stand out against the background.
That is exactly the kind of advice I am looking for. Thanks :thumb.

What aperture would you suggest for a shot like this?? I need to just pick something and take a bunch of pictures of it at different apertures so I can learn what will look like what.

Thanks for the info
Nick

[Angelo]

fun shots Nick.

I'd also like to see some advice on a problem I often experience in a setting such as yours. The subject matter closest to the camera seems a bit dark. I think it's because the camera is compensating for the bright sky. I'd love to read about ways to avoid this.

[gluwater]

I should have used a fill flash, hind site is 20/20 right.
That is the only way I know of brightening the foreground without completely blowing out the sky. I'm sure there are other ways but that's all I know of.

Andy, what do you think? You're the Street Guru. Is there a better way to brighten the foreground without blowing out a brighter background in a setting like this?

Nick

[Netgarden]

PSP9 has a Fill Flash effect, and also a Clarify effect. They've come in very handy for me in shadows and gloomy days. It sure makes it easy, one click, and no masking or heavy processing. You might like it for stree photography, especially where tall buildings make shadows.

Cute that you caught the surprise on that kids face. Nice job.


I should have used a fill flash, hind site is 20/20 right.
That is the only way I know of brightening the foreground without completely blowing out the sky. I'm sure there are other ways but that's all I know of.

Andy, what do you think? You're the Street Guru. Is there a better way to brighten the foreground without blowing out a brighter background in a setting like this?

Nick

[gluwater]

Thanks Netgarden:D he was trying to out play the performer and it backfired on him.

I've heard of clarify in PSP9 but I have PS7. I know you can make a duplicate layer, lighten it and use the history brush to act as a kind of fill flash but I don't have the software.:cry

I haven't really tried too much on this yet because I've been busy but hopefully soon I'll give it a try.

Thanks for the info:thumb

Nick

[Aaron Bernard]

That is exactly the kind of advice I am looking for. Thanks :thumb.

What aperture would you suggest for a shot like this?? I need to just pick something and take a bunch of pictures of it at different apertures so I can learn what will look like what.

Thanks for the info
Nick
Id go for the largest aperture that you can shoot in the conditions your working with. The larger the aperture the more blur you will get in your background or to put it another way your focal length will shorten up (the area of the shot that is in focus). If your shooting manual focus you have to be spot on!

[gluwater]

Id go for the largest aperture that you can shoot in the conditions your working with. The larger the aperture the more blur you will get in your background or to put it another way your focal length will shorten up (the area of the shot that is in focus). If your shooting manual focus you have to be spot on!At f/4.5 I was shooting at 1/100th, click for Exif (http://gluwater.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=30468366).
I know I should have used the onboard flash as a fill, then I could have lowered used a larger Aperture and still had a decent shutter speed. Right? I'm still learning, bear with me. Or I could have lowered the exposure without using the flash, therefor getting a larger aperture while retaining a decent shutter speed.

I'll get this stuff sooner or later.

Thanks
Nick