Critique Welcomed New Yawk

[Darren Bradley]

Was in New York City over the weekend and early this week. The architecture there is so well photographed, it's unlikely to find something that hasn't been shot before. In any case, I was with family and had no time to venture out in search of the unknown. I just had a few minutes here and there to take some quick snapshots (no tripod) while walking around with the family. So instead, it's all about trying to find new and creative ways to approach the classics in all the tourist spots...

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Darren, that first is stunning - wonderful lines all over the place. The Museum of Modern Art was made for photography - can't go wrong there, but many do. I like your last shot especially - almost like two photos in one. Great timing.

 

[Pete Askew]

Well you certainly managed that and the B&W shot of the Guggenheim is wonderful. And the shot of the MoMA is a gem. I love those vertical lines.

 

[Lesley Jones]

I think I love these even more than the Vegas photographs. The first one here is simply stunning, with the almost neutral colours and just a touch of yellow at the bottom with the taxis. Both the second and third are strong and powerful, but the last one has me going back for another look. It almost does have two pictures in one. I like the haphazard gathering of a crowd down below, while the couple are neatly framed in their own little box

 

[Davie Hudson]

i am literally open mouth stunned at the first one

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Outstanding - the vignette effect on #1 makes it for me - really helps the dimensionality - that building pops out of the shot!

Timing on #4 - wonderful

Great to have you back posting on the forum - we've missed you!

 

[Hamish Gill]

Very nice Darren!
That last one is very well timed with the folk in the window!

Hand held eh, very impressive ... Any future correction on the computer?
Ive just bought a compact without a veiwfinder ... It's so hard to get things vertical when holding a camera away from your face!
I took a few snaps the other day that I thought were near enough, got them in the computer ... No good! As always goes through my head "Darren would not be impressed"

 

[Paul Lange]

For me it's the last one with those people just about to get to the middle of the stairwell.

 

[Darren Bradley]

Thanks, everyone! I definitely accentuated the vignetting on that first shot to make the building stand out more. It's a frequent dilemma when shooting a building in a crowded city - how to make it stand out as the subject of the photograph with so much else competing for attention in the frame.

The Guggenheim (shot #2) was a similar dilemma but made easier by the form of the building. And I found a tree to make a natural vignette from, too .

What attracted me to shot #3 at the MOMA was exactly what you guys said - the juxtaposition of the chaos below with the order of the neatly framed people above. It was just a question of patience to get them when they were positioned right in the stairwell.

In all of these cases, I did shoot handheld, as I mentioned. I occasionally made some minor corrections in LR to adjust them to get them perfectly straight. But to be honest, I've had enough practice at using the sides of my frame in the viewfinder to line up the verticals that I do it now without even thinking about it. I even do it when I don't need to. I'll find myself doing it when I'm shooting my daughter at a birthday party, even.

You bought a camera without a viewfinder, Hamish? What'd you go and do that for?!? Seriously, though, I find that when I shoot photos using an LCD, the results usually aren't as good. There seems to be more distance between me and the subject - the photos tend to feel less engaged. Maybe it's just me...