Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

Some said that they would like to see this in monochrome. Don't say that I'm not obliging ;-)
I've used a slight copper tone on this and, against my better judgement, toned down the bag ;-)

Graham

Georgie Loc: England

Love it. (I have some of this type of photograph taken by my Grandfather.) Thankyou for sharing it.

Heirloom Tomato Loc: Oregon

Graham, you have made the infamous bag look like an old potato sack. Are you teasing critics of the yellow bag? :-P

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

I've just edited my post :-)

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Never realized the copper toning would be so effective. I may have to borrow that piece of arcana if I ever decide to void my photos of their color element.

Graham I consider you one of the great teachers here (the Japanese would label you Sensei). If I ever got even half as good as you, I'd be satisfied. But I realize, it's like the rest of photography ....... practice, practice, try some new techniques, practice some more, and merge what you know with what you've learned.

As to contentment or sadness, I'd opt for resignation.

Heirloom Tomato Loc: Oregon

Now I can actually see the potatoes inside the bag. :D

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

Thank you Bob, I much prefer a copper tone to any of the others, it enriches the blacks and imparts a warmth without changing the mood as sepia can. When sepia is used the viewer thinks "old photograph" which is fine if that is what you want but it does change the "story"

Graham, desperately searching for the embarrassed emoticon, a row of fifty should be enough :-)

Nightski

Graham, I'm torn. I thought the subtle colors brought forth in the last photo were so beautiful. I love that photo. The only thing I didn't like was the plastic bag. But I was willing to live with it, until now. I like the bag here much better. It does not distract. IMHO

MtnMan Loc: ID

I like this much better.

I was one of the anti-bag folk.

Chuck_893 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

MEZZOTINT! (Sorry! Didn't mean to shout.) Mezzotint was the word for the technique I was groping for the other day. Graham—Sensei,—this technique you are using looks like mezzotint, and so far as I am concerned is perfect for this picture, and the others I've seen where you've used it.

We could all go on and on about why the picture is technically perfect, from exposure to composition to just the right degree of sharpness to placement to burning down the bag and yada yada. What I think the picture really is, is emotionally perfect.

What I am now calling the "Graham Rule"… Well, if this were in a gallery I'd like that they provided this nice bench so I could sit and look at it. (I'm not gushing. Well, I'm trying not to.) I linger long over this picture and wonder, wonder, wonder.

I've opined elsewhere that not every picture has to tell a story, that it's like the difference between "program" and "absolute" music. In a sense this picture does not tell a story either. It grabs you by your lapels and asks a thousand questions.

• Sadness? I think it's resignation, too.
• Does he smoke his butts 'til they burn his fingers because they are so costly? Or does he pick up the half-smoked ones at his feet and smoke them down?
• His shoes don't match the rest of his clothes. Salvation Army?
• His clothes seem reasonably sound and warm but ill-fitting, too big. Yes! Salvation Army!

Okay, I need to shut up. I yap and yap (figuratively)… :thumbup: (I should add that I never do street photography—far too shy.)

Emm5

I think your judgement should overrule.
When I look at this beautiful picture . I picture the man as possible homeless
And that bag is an integral part in this story and as such should have a more
Prominent role.
Love your work Graham !
Do you use nik fx for converting your pictures?

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

Thanks for your kind words Emm5, and yes I do use Silver Efex for my conversions.

Graham

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

Yep, I still like this shot.
Great conversion Graham although I think the bags a bit dark. I'd like to see some natural detail in it.

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

Thank you Chuck,

<snipped all of the stuff that is making me squirm> :-)



Yup, shut up. Soon you will have me thinking that I'm a real photographer, I never want that to happen. I might just start to take myself seriously and that goes against my whole ethos :-)

Back in 2008, when I first thought that street photography might be for me, I did struggle to get the confidence to point the camera directly at a person but I soon overcame that. In very few of my pictures is the subject aware of the camera, this is very deliberate on my part. I want the subject to be interacting with their environment, their thoughts, not with me or my camera. People fascinate me.

Graham

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

Thanks lighthouse, the bag was quite difficult to deal with as the bright fluorescent colour was almost blown and darkening it lost the detail.

Graham