I like the explicit acknowledgement of the "gritty" life, gritty back alley (behind either a very clean restaurant or a "greasy spoon"... hard to tell) , and the gritty existance exemplified and accentuated in this contrast scene.

I come back for further comment having read the opinion by a frequent critic that this image disclosed a "sloppy" tecnique in its graininess...and its contrast. To accuse others of "sloppiness" and inattention or careless technique while protecting oneself from criticism by refusal to post one's own images for perusal is unseemly and boorish.

Again, it might be easier to understand his rather rough critique of this image, if the critic had ever made it possible to review any of his images, but he claims not wishing to subject them to the sorts of comments made here (other than, I presume, his own) and thus has never submitted an image to the Critique section, nor supplied a link to any portfolio of his works.

Further, he urges comparison of this image ( made, I presume, with a less-than medium or large format camera) with a classic image of B-Whites who consistently used the various large-format Graflex models. He may...or may not ... realize he has opened tne door to deserved urgings that he become far more familiar than he seem to be with the images of Cartier-Bresson, W.E,Smith, Robert Capa, Weegee, Brassai and other who clearly paid their dues in photojournalism and on the street and clearly had no ostentatious antipahy to grain!

Besides his obvious modesty concerning his own images, He needs to review his attitudes concerning both grain/noise and contrast. But then....perhaps he has much to be modest about?

So Rudolf, be not discouraged by that critic's precious sensitivity to grain and contrast, get back on the street and let us see more of your images, taken and processed in your our own style.

Dave in SD

I wish to be perfectly clear. I object in no way to abcd1234's antipathy toward either this images's grain or to its contrast. Chacun a son gout.

I do, however, object strongly to his accusation of sloppiness and carelessness putatively exercised by the photographer. Were I the photographer, I'd be rightly incensed at the crass effrontery of such pejorative assessment of my sincere efforts.
But then, he never would put his own images at risk of critique, now would he?

Dave in SD

I think this is an interesting picture Rudolf. I immediately know what is going on, I am there, they are giving me (you) their attention. One guy is completely relaxed and smiling, the other is showing just a touch of tension, perhaps bemusement as to why anyone would want to take his picture but is accepting and happy to comply.
Personally I'm not a fan of the more yellow tints, I find they are to "acid", preferring a warmer copper tone or for a cooler look I occasionally use a selenium tint. I don't find the grain at all excessive, contrast wise some dodging and burning would alleviate that but if you are happy with it the way it is leave it.

If "street photography" of strangers on the street is not something you pursue then my hat is off to you. I could imagine this as an image
captured in the style of the social documentary photographers 80 years ago.

Graham