Only Half Of The Story: I was sitting enjoying a pint and trying to get an image of the lock, the etched glass and the person behind the glass. The other chap walked over and sat down...

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

I was sitting enjoying a pint and trying to get an image of the lock, the etched glass and the person behind the glass. The other chap walked over and sat down so I grabbed a shot before he spotted me and my camera. I was using my D700 with a battery grip so it was very conspicuous. If I had been using my M9 I would have been able to get a number of shots in but as soon as I fired the D700 he became concious of the camera, the moment had passed. At least I got this one.

Get to work :-)

Graham

Nightski

I really love this one, Graham. After viewing Walker Evan's work, I have even more of an appreciation for what you do.

I love the ghostly effect on the guy behind the window. It makes it so much more like I'm right there. You described your soft focus style to me. I love it here. It's not oof, it's just soft if that makes sense. The lighting captures the mood of having a brew after work. That wallpaper is classic! OMG, I can't believe there is still wallpaper like that. Maybe it just looks old fashioned because of the b&w treatment you gave the photo. This totally works for me.
Nice DOF too. That guy up at the bar is in a perfect soft focus.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Nice. Lots of interesting texture and geometry on all the layers from the lock all the way back through the glass and wallpaper to the bottles. Of course the interesting gentleman enjoying his drink and conversation makes a nice environmental portrait in the midst of all that.

smcaleer Loc: Dearborn Heights, Michigan

I know this is a critique and analysis section so I'll tell you what I like because as far as I can see there's nothing wrong. Do you ever take a bad photo?
I love your people/street shots. I love how the detail comes out in that glass and wood. I don't need to see the man behind the glass because he's more interesting as a mystery. Maybe they are life long friends that get together regularly for a pint.
You are blessed my friend. I'm just glad you share them with us.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Graham Smith wrote:

I was sitting enjoying a pint and trying to get an... (show quote)

Luck or intent...I'm glad focus remained on glass, door frame, and lock! Great Grab! again, H.C-B smiles!

Dave in SD

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Uuglypher wrote:

Luck or intent...I'm glad focus remained on glass, door frame, and lock! Great Grab! again, H.C-B smiles!

Dave in SD

Ok help me out here. I have got to start understanding how Graham's mind works and what makes a photo great. I really like this image. I can't tell you why. That is what I am struggling with. I would have shot it so the focus was on the gentleman on the right, not the door frame. This works and what I would have shot would not. Can someone explain why?

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Country's Mama wrote:

Ok help me out here. I have got to start understanding how Graham's mind works and what makes a photo great. I really like this image. I can't tell you why. That is what I am struggling with. I would have shot it so the focus was on the gentleman on the right, not the door frame. This works and what I would have shot would not. Can someone explain why?

To my eye it is a scene of ambiance, not of a moment involving the two men...they merely suggest what has been going on...for a long time...in the establishment whose character and permanence are assured to us by the crisp, unmarred design in glass, the sharp focus on the wood of the door, and the focused lock that has long secured the place. It's the place, not the moment ... nor these particular people.

Dave in SD

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Uuglypher wrote:

To my eye it is a scene of ambiance, not of a moment involving the two men...they merely suggest what has been going on...for a long time...in the establishment whose character and permanence are assured to us by the crisp, unmarred design in glass, the sharp focus on the wood of the door, and the focused lock that has long secured the place. It's the place, not the moment ... nor these particular people.

Dave in SD

So in order to take photos like this I need to become a little more reflective and astute? I hope this is something that can be learned and not something in one's genes.

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

Country's Mama wrote:

So in order to take photos like this I need to become a little more reflective and astute? I hope this is something that can be learned and not something in one's genes.

Hello Country's Mama, the best piece of advice I can give is to study the great photographers that work in this field (I won't use the word "genre" as it's a bit pretentious :-)) The one mentioned in another thread, Walker Evans, Elliot Erwitt, Gene Lowinger, Don McCullin, Philip Jones Griffiths and of course the inimitable Henri Cartier-Bresson. A good source is Magnum Photos. Many of the pictures on Magnum are war photographs, don't dismiss them because of the subject matter. Study the technique, think about what, other than the main subject, adds to the story. But, of course, the above is irrelevant if you don't get out there and take the pictures ;-)

Graham

MtnMan Loc: ID

Graham Smith wrote:

I was sitting enjoying a pint and trying to get an... (show quote)

Amazing. Thanks for sharing with us. Seeing the one man through the window, and the other person in the background, gives the eye places to wander from the main subject.

As usual execution is flawless.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Country's Mama wrote:

Ok help me out here. I have got to start understanding how Graham's mind works and what makes a photo great. I really like this image. I can't tell you why. That is what I am struggling with. I would have shot it so the focus was on the gentleman on the right, not the door frame. This works and what I would have shot would not. Can someone explain why?

Not me. I agree this works but I am not sure that focus on the man would not have worked. Perhaps one would have been distracted then by the door but I'd have to see it that way to know.

As it is because the door is a simple form it causes the eye to wander around to the other parts of the image rather than staying stuck on the door.

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

MtnMan wrote:

Not me. I agree this works but I am not sure that focus on the man would not have worked. Perhaps one would have been distracted then by the door but I'd have to see it that way to know.

As it is because the door is a simple form it causes the eye to wander around to the other parts of the image rather than staying stuck on the door.

Hello MtnMan, I think that focus on the man would have worked too, no right, no wrong. My feeling is that having the man soft is the equivalent of listening in to the conversation but not wanting to focus your look on the man for fear that he might realise that you are eavesdropping. Because of the low light I wouldn't have been able use a small aperture to get the door and the man in focus, if I had focussed on the man then the door would have been out of focus and the person behind the glass would have been indiscernible.

Graham

MtnMan Loc: ID

Graham Smith wrote:

Hello MtnMan, I think that focus on the man would ... (show quote)

Thank you for your thoughts on that. It will help make all of us better photographers.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Graham Smith wrote:

Hello Country's Mama, the best piece of advice I c... (show quote)

A very important point here is the value of continually looking at images... and those mentioned are great suggestions. I have been doing just that.

I have several thoughts on this image, which I like very much, because it is evocative and it has made me think. One idea--and it's a question-- What would you think of cropping the pane on the far left? Or using "content aware" and replacing the shape in that pane?

I'm still thinking....and thanks for sharing your thoughts and the process by which it occurred. I am getting the sense that you are an individual who sees a great deal....

snails_pace Loc: Utah

I am an admirer of your work. I have done some street photography and would like to do more. But I find that once people become aware that they are having pictures taken, they become uncomfortable and maybe even really concerned.

Maybe it's symptomatic of our society here ... I really hate to make people uncomfortable. Any suggestions? Maybe I'm just too thin skinned for this type of photography.