Whip the Guy On The Bench

[BeaKeR]

Well, maybe not the guy on the bench, maybe just the photo.

18851

Full size is available here (http://bkr.smugmug.com/photos/144452722-O.jpg).

Thanks for taking a look, and double for any feedback!

[Scott_Quier]

Welcome to DGrin.
I think the shot is interesting, it has made me think a bit, and the concept has potential, but for me it sorta' missed the boat. I keep trying to figure out what it is you are trying to say with this image and I draw a blank.

I'm not too keen on the selective colorizatin of his coat. Is there a purpose behind doing it here? If so, I'm not seeing it.

I think this would be so much better if it were shot from the other side of the statue to get some/all of his face in the shot, that is if the person is the focus of the shot. As it stands, the man is secondary to the statue. Even the colorization doesn't change that for me.

[BeaKeR]

Scott,
Thanks for your comments. I agree with most of what you said, but for some reason I feel like I need to explain what I was going for a bit more (maybe so I can avoid going to work :wink).

The photo was taken in a courtyard of the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Denver, right before a service started. A number of people were walking by, all ignoring this homeless man sleeping on the bench outside. So that's kinda what I was going for. The statue is supposed to be sort of a second focus, and give a sense of place.

Obviously I didn't manage to get any of those other people in the frame. I could have gotten them, and the man's face, if I had taken from the reverse angle but that would've put a lot fo other stuff in the background (cars, McDonald's, very bright sky) which is why I chose not to. I spent a while walking around this one and this was the only reasonable angle I could find.

The colorization is supposed to draw you back to the man on the bench. His jacket is actually much brighter than that, but it seemed overwhelming in the BW conversion so I muted it. Perhaps I took that a bit far.

Thanks again for your thoughtful comments Scott,
BKR

[pathfinder]

He's homeless?? Looks like a fellow in jeans and sneakers and a down jacket:dunno

The statue is very interesting, and the juxtaposition of an obviously homeless individual and the statue might be an interesting visual comparison, but I did not see that in this image.

I do not see the benefit of the colorization of the jacket here either. I think it would be better in straight b&W myself.

[DoctorIt]

This is the post after all, so here goes:

I see an attempt at "candid" street photography. If you want to do street, get brave, get in people's faces, otherwise it just looks voyeurish. And I think you realize this: without faces or emotion, your scene doesn't really jump out at us at all, so you are trying to make up for it by wowing us with selective desaturation.

But hey, A for effort, you're out there trying. :D

*crack!*

[BeaKeR]

Wow you guys are really... umm.. enthusiastic about education!

In all seriousness though, great feedback. In fact you guys are uncannily accurate. I'm still working on that whole "in your face" street portrait thing -- still trying to get over my innate shyness in that respect.

He is homeless -- you can see all his stuff on the bench next to him. I played with colorizing that as well but it seemed like too much color.

[DoctorIt]

In all seriousness though, great feedback. In fact you guys are uncannily accurate. I'm still working on that whole "in your face" street portrait thing -- still trying to get over my innate shyness in that respect.Good attitude! :clap

Street seems so "easy" at first glance, doesn't it?

[dragon0103]

Well, maybe not the guy on the bench, maybe just the photo.

18851

Full size is available here (http://bkr.smugmug.com/photos/144452722-O.jpg).

Thanks for taking a look, and double for any feedback!

Ok I really like this shot. I have looked at lots lately for inspiration and I like this one. I especially like the use of B&W and color. It has sparked some crazy ideas in my head so peruse if you dare... I am not a professional by any stretch of the imagination.

-The flower detail in the statue is great.

I have some things I am curious about....

-what does it look like when you put his bag in color as well... if you are seperating the homeless from the holy that may be powerful... unsure of the message though.

If you keep the hands and the hat in color it throws me off... again I am not a professional, but how does it look with only 1 thing that is "artificial" the hand and the hat look too artificial.

I would be curious to see what the homeless man's bag in color alone would be like. You could really play on a "slave" type of montage with that type of imagery. Slave to what moves you... or something like that.

Most of all great shot! It really spurred some ideas for me and I love that.

[BeaKeR]

Dragon,
Thanks for the interest and taking the time to post. Using the extra time provided to my courtesy of insomnia I've created several different versions. Each is linked back to my gallery so you can see original size if you are so inclined.

A man and his bag...
http://bkr.smugmug.com/photos/148546067-M.jpg (http://bkr.smugmug.com/gallery/2786686#148546067)

In the original I desaturated the colors so they weren't quite so distracting. This one is at full saturation.
http://bkr.smugmug.com/photos/148546031-M.jpg (http://bkr.smugmug.com/gallery/2786686#148546031)

Now just the bag!
http://bkr.smugmug.com/photos/148546046-M.jpg (http://bkr.smugmug.com/gallery/2786686#148546046)

Now just the jacket!
http://bkr.smugmug.com/photos/148546058-M.jpg (http://bkr.smugmug.com/gallery/2786686#148546058)

I think they're interesting, but ultimately I like the original one (desaturated, man and jacket in color) the best. But then we knew that because I messed around with all these the first time around.

Still, I'd be interested to hear your opinion.