Critique Welcomed Street - A Couple More Portraits.

[alfie Wright]

I've not been here for the last couple of weeks & wow! there's hundreds of new posts to try & catch up on!

I've spent the last couple of weeks studying for a bi-annual or is it biennial (Once every two years) series of rules exams for my job. Bloody horrible, but passed & done again for another two years!

Photography took a bit of a back seat during the studying, but here's a couple more Street portraits...





Rod?... by alfie2902, on Flickr




Bus Spotting #1... by alfie2902, on Flickr

 

[Hamish Gill]

Welcome back buddy!
I didn't wonder where you had disappeared to
Did you say you drive trains? I'm sure I haven't made that up ...
I guess there is a lot of health and safety involved??

Anyway, interesting pair of folks ... Is that first one Rod Stuart?

Whats the deal with the second guy?

Not really connected to these images, but I must see if I can dig out a set of images that were posted here ... Taken of new york people, usually poor folk, but the photographer got to know a lot of them ... I'll see if I can find it, I think you might like it

 

[Hamish Gill]

He you go http://www.realphotographersforum.com/people-portraits/4240-chris-arnades-faces-addiction.html

 

[alfie Wright]

He you go http://www.realphotographersforum.com/people-portraits/4240-chris-arnades-faces-addiction.html

Many thanks for the link, Hamish.

Wow I've just lost an hour looking & reading through his photostream. The guys work does resonate with me. He has captured some stunning images & along with the stories he tells they become even more powerful & moving, even a little harrowing at times. I'm not sure that's where I want to take my images, not sure I could handle hearing all the stories tbh. I suspect I'll just see how my images develop over the next year or two before heading off in a direction.

I've been thinking of joining the Flickr group "100 Strangers" whose aim is to take 100 portraits of strangers, writing a description of each ot the images. The asking, the persons details etc. I think this would be good for my development in taking portraits in general aswell as the candid street stuff I like.

 

[alfie Wright]

Welcome back buddy!
I didn't wonder where you had disappeared to
Did you say you drive trains? I'm sure I haven't made that up ...
I guess there is a lot of health and safety involved??

Anyway, interesting pair of folks ... Is that first one Rod Stuart?

Whats the deal with the second guy?

Not really connected to these images, but I must see if I can dig out a set of images that were posted here ... Taken of new york people, usually poor folk, but the photographer got to know a lot of them ... I'll see if I can find it, I think you might like it

It's nice to be back mate!

Yes, I am a train driver, you haven't made it up! The 2 yearly rules exam has always been a part of being a driver, but with H&S being as it is today the Rules exam is about twice the length it used to be. There's several publications that I need to know inside out & a driver probably uses about 30-40% percent every day, so this is easy to recall as it's in daily use. The other 60-70% is needed for when things go wrong & alot of it you never hopefully have to put into practice. Everything we are tested on has to be signed off & counter signed to prove my knowledge, but mostly it's to cover the TOC (Train operating company) legally. If I then do anything wrong I'm up in court not them!! Heavy stuff tbh.

I quite like both of the images, but neither are great. I've not really taken an image I'm truely happy with yet, but I'm developing slowly & post the ones I think are better & use reaction as a gauge, so it's good to hear other opinions.

The first guy did remind me a little of Rod Stewart & looked pretty interesting & the light was stronger than I'm used to, so I tried to get him side lit. I've re-processed it since posting & calmed the highlights on the left side of his face.

The 2nd guy I noticed Bus spotting as I walked past & just had an interesting face. As I raised the camera he just stuck out his tongue, so I recomposed & snapped the image. I had a quick chat & snapped another just as I left him.

So I guess to me that they are just interesting looking characters & any story is just what the viewer makes up from what he/she sees in their faces, style, appearance & demeanour.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Many thanks for the link, Hamish.

Wow I've just lost an hour looking & reading through his photostream. The guys work does resonate with me. He has captured some stunning images & along with the stories he tells they become even more powerful & moving, even a little harrowing at times. I'm not sure that's where I want to take my images, not sure I could handle hearing all the stories tbh. I suspect I'll just see how my images develop over the next year or two before heading off in a direction.

Yes, its quite heavy going isnt it ... fantastic stuff though!

I've been thinking of joining the Flickr group "100 Strangers" whose aim is to take 100 portraits of strangers, writing a description of each ot the images. The asking, the persons details etc. I think this would be good for my development in taking portraits in general aswell as the candid street stuff I like.

Can we have a link to the flickr group?
Im very interested to see where you take your photography mate! one way or another, i think you have a talent and the will (guts, doesnt seem the right word??) to take it somewhere really interesting!
I look froward to your posts and was a little worried when we didnt see you for a couple of weeks!
Keep up the work and progress, and for me at least keep posting it ... I hope this doesnt sound that doesnt sound sycophantic, or this patronising, but I do think you have hit on something quite impressive with what you do and with time/practice I think you could do something equally as interesting as matey in new york!

- - - Updated - - -

It's nice to be back mate!

Yes, I am a train driver, you haven't made it up! The 2 yearly rules exam has always been a part of being a driver, but with H&S being as it is today the Rules exam is about twice the length it used to be. There's several publications that I need to know inside out & a driver probably uses about 30-40% percent every day, so this is easy to recall as it's in daily use. The other 60-70% is needed for when things go wrong & alot of it you never hopefully have to put into practice. Everything we are tested on has to be signed off & counter signed to prove my knowledge, but mostly it's to cover the TOC (Train operating company) legally. If I then do anything wrong I'm up in court not them!! Heavy stuff tbh.

Sounds a nightmare mate!
I suppose needs must ... its quite the position of responsibility!

 

[Pete Askew]

I really like these as well Alfie and it's the engagement that does it for me. It edges them nearer to the classic documentary photography that modern street photography that, as Hamish notes, gives these a real edge. Not just observation of modern times but part of the story of our time. Looking forward to more.

 

[alfie Wright]

Wow! very many thanks for the kind words, Hamish & Pete.

I'll keep posting my efforts, but what I'd give for a small slice of your combined experience! I've come to the conclusion that I should just shoot shoot shoot & learn from my mistakes. I like the feedback from here, both the praise as above & also the suggestions on how to improve, or look at things slightly differently & the suggestions of other things to try.

I've been trying other stuff as well as the eye contact 'up close & personal' stuff here. More candid stuff & using a background or area of good light & waiting for a interesting subject. I've had more failure than success, but I think I learn more that way.

Hamish, the 100 strangers is here Flickr: 100 Strangers I'm really considering having a go at this. Hopefully it will teach me how better to use the light to improve mty portraits. It gives an aim/goal whilst I practice & hopefully I might see an improvement over the 100.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Alfie the two images here are wonderful,to have as far as I can see that personal and positive engagement, transfered through the images in the way I see them is not easily achieved. Great interaction which I would be very proud to be able to capture. These have certainly worked well.

 

[alfie Wright]

Thanks for the kind words, Julian. I'm glad you like them. I do try to capture the eye contact, but sometimes I'm to slow & they notice me approach & sometime I think they'll never look & take the shot to early.