the argument, a photo from Geneva, West

Photographer's Note

in a scene filled with lavenders, moss greens, and grays, a young couple stands arguing ~ their emotional tension echoed in the opening to a long dark tunnel, the stylized barrier of wrought iron spikes, the closed windows, and the downward angle of the shot.

maloutim ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

delpeoples (60326) 2013-05-22 19:43

Hi Kristin

Sorry I don't have any green smilies left today, but wanted to critique your photo. The guy looks a little embarrassed here, and personally if you'd taken a photo of me during such a moment the latin blood might have seen me chasing you ;) And as a photographer I'd never have had the wontons to shoot such a private, personal moment. I'm interested to know how you feel about taking this scene. Some would say, well these two chose to have a fight in public so they're fair game for a photographer. Others might say, well aren't there limits to what we should be photographing? I don't mean to have a go at you, so please don't take offense. But this issue has been a constant preoccupation with me when taking "street photography" or any type of people shots. I am very note interested to know what you thought as you were taking the shot.

Warm wishes, thanks for provoking the old grey matter
Lisa

EstudioChispa (2182) 2013-05-23 7:06

There is, of course, the panoply of issues implicated in shooting a private moment between two people, even if it is in a public place. I've read your response to Lisa and I think you've summed it up nicely and I'll comment no further on that subject, but instead will try to address the image itself -- which is FABULOUS.

Thematically, it is brilliantly composed. We see one face out of two, giving us a window into their discussion but leaving plenty of mystery regarding the woman's face. His tentative hand is intriguing, also -- a request for contact, but also an assertion of force or control, or a setting of limits? Hard to say.

The two diagonal lines -- the railing in the lower left and the intersection of the concrete planes running into the upper right corner -- are wonderful compositional elements. The railing on the right is a great counterpoint.

I also love the thematic inclusion of both the depths and the heights -- the dark passage into the room or hall at the bottom of the stairs and the fantastic array of hues in the roof tiles.

I could go on and on -- the great textures in the concrete, the additional windows into other unknown spaces, the wrought iron work and the spattering of greenery all work together to demonstrate the central theme of the image, the tension between these two people. There was also the fortunate circumstance of the very even light -- did you dodge his face just a bit, or (as I know you do very little PP) was it just perfectly exposed from the outset? Either way, well done!

Perfection, alas, is an elusive goal. Street photography is something that one can pursue for a lifetime and always find ways to improve. One of those skills is really, really, really looking at what's in the viewfinder. This is not a personal criticism -- it is a recognition of a challenge that is all too familiar to me. I've got the shot, I get back to the computer, and I look at the frame and think... that if only I had pulled the lens back just a wee bit, we would have included her feet and some of the tiles atop the dormers, and the image would have been that much closer to perfection.

As it is, it is nearly perfect, and that's wonderful.

Best regards,

Russ
Austin, Texas

rigoletto (34279) 2013-05-23 7:23

Arguing?
Rather looks like they are about to have a kiss, the boy has an amused expression trying to hold her waist, but the girl has a more reluctant body language. And that desolate corner is a good setting for this moment of intimacy.

Hi Kristin,
I've been having an eye in your gallery for some time already, maybe one month or more. I appreciate that you have the street photography bite: hunting for the moments of people. I'd recommend you to have a look at the galleries of former TE members like sohrab, animeshray, luko, polonaise, jinju, bantonbuju, ninal, traczewska. I guess you'll be inspired by their work.

Have a good day
Deniz