Voss

But what if he says "hello"? (She did in fact totally ignore him. She stood like that until her girlfriend came by.) C & c welcome.

AZNikon Loc: Mesa, AZ

Great story shot-love it!

Franku Loc: Wallingford, PA and Parrish, Fl

Another good one, Voss.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Good catch.

Voss

Bob, Frank, Richard, Thanks a lot, guys!

Nightski

Okay, Voss. I looked and looked at this because there is something that doesn't quite grab me. Then I saw the reflection of the man in the window, so I wondered how it would look cropped to cut the man out of the picture and just leave his reflection. I like that better because it just gives a hint of the man who she is ignoring. It give more of the feeling of her ignoring him. I do like the warm expression of the man as he looks at the dog, but at the same time I feel like he detracts from the introvert. Then I realized that you really have two pictures here. YOu have one with the girl and her dog. The leash strengthens the relationship between those two and the reflection has the man lurking in the back. This is how she sees him. She sees him as a lurker. Then you have the image of the dog and the man. I cropped the girl out. The leash comes into the frame, and that breaks the rules, but I like it. I think the problem for including all three is that there is no interaction between the man and girl ...even if he had just been looking at her as he walked by that would have tied them together. As you know, I am no street photographer by any stretch of the imagination, but I do like analyzing street pics. I do know what has impact for me and what doesn't and I like to try to figure out why. Hope you don't mind my musing.

Voss

Sandra, I think you're right about there being two photographs. I ran them as you suggested and they both work. The only complaint I'd have about the girl is that you really have to be observant to see the man and to connect him to her. The disappearing leash is of no consequence.

As for your analysis, that's what I WANT. I learn from it and have already learned much from people's remarks, both on my threads and those of others. So, thank you, and keep it up.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Okay! Now you have two very nice environmental portraits, as well as the very nice Street Photography shot that was in the OP.

Nightski

That reflection is much more noticeable in the crop. I like that leash coming in and leaving a little mystery as to who is on the other end. It's fun to pick photos apart like this, isn't it? Good brain exercise.

Voss

Thanks, Floyd.

Voss

I like them separately. Yes, I like to dissect a photo. But I sometimes pick up negative vibes when I try to make suggestions to others. My intentions are to help them develop better skills, but I guess that's not always welcome.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

There is a "trick" to that. It's well worth understanding too...

First, what you or I think makes an image "better" is generally meaningless! What did the original photographer want? That is the only point that counts, and what we think it should have been or could have been is just insulting the photographer.

Hence it is rarely if ever helpful suggesting something different in the guise that it will "help them develop" anything. It won't, unless of course the photographer specifically asked how to get some effect. You have to know what they want first, and not substitute what you want.

The essence of that is, if you want to analyze an image, then analyze what it does. Leave out what it could be might be should be or would be. Just tell them what it does and why it does that, and be very very careful about anything you think it does that is negative or that it should do and doesn't.

An example would be to not suggest an image doesn't fit the Rule Of Thirds. Who cares. Don't worry about whether it is level or not! Who cares. But if it has leading lines towards the center, say so. If it isn't level and the effect is in any way shape or form interesting, say so. Point out what causes it to be the things it is if they appear to you to be beneficial.

Only if the photographer brings up things like leading lines that don't, proportions that are not 1:3, non-level lines, and so on should that be brought into it.

The point isn't to help the other photographer become you! It's to help the other photographer to do what they want to do (even if you think it is ugly as sin).

On the opposite side of that coin, life would be really boring if we actually followed that in every case and never assumed the person who posts an image isn't implying a desire to know. If an image needs a little "pop", and it's obvious how to get it... say so. But don't start with how to make an entirely new image! Be gentle...

Another part of the flip side of the coin is when you full well know someone finds every possible variation to be interesting! Like Nightski! Between you and her and I, I can't see how any odd thing one of us might think of should not be stated, just so see where it takes the others. Nightski has a fabulously experimental mind, and it is just plain fun to set her off and see where it goes!

Voss

Message received. Yes, it's good advice, and I will take it to heart.