Act of Kindness: I call this image "Act of Kindness". It is a street shot. The back story. I was walking home from the corner store, I noticed a street person sitting down in the...

JD750 Loc: SoCal

I call this image "Act of Kindness". It is a street shot.

The back story.
I was walking home from the corner store, I noticed a street person sitting down in the shade. My heart feel sadness that people have to live this way. It is a difficult life. But it is a hard fact of todays culture, living in the city, that some people have to live this way. As I continued walking I passed a local pizza place and a woman exited, her style ion dress said clearly "upper middle class", and she was carrying several pizzas in boxes. On top of the boxes was a paper plate with one large pizza slice on it. I realized she was going to give that to the bag lady. I quickly turned around and I had time for one shot. It was a very emotional moment for me. So I ask, does the image convey that emotion? Or is it missing something.

All thoughts and opinions are welcome. Please feel free to post different interpretations.

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rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

JD750 wrote:

I call this image "Act of Kindness". It... (show quote)

Considering what you had to work with, namely no preparation, this is a really good picture. The subjects are in focus, and properly lit, while the background is in bokeh. We can see enough of the recipient to see her gratitude and enough of her surroundings to have a sense of context.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

rehess wrote:

Considering what you had to work with, namely no preparation, this is a really good picture. The subjects are in focus, and properly lit, while the background is in bokeh. We can see enough of the recipient to see her gratitude and enough of her surroundings to have a sense of context.

Still photography captures an instant, a fleeting moment in time. But that instant can convey emotion. Her gratitude! That is what I was hoping capture. But as you point out the context is part of it. I think maybe I felt that when I took the shot but I didn't consciously think about it. Very little time to think. Thank you for pointing that out, and commenting.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

A magic moment and you did what you could to capture it. It tells the story well and gives one faith in the human race not always to just look after number one.
If this was shot in RAW I think there are improvements that could be made if your PP skills run to it. Lifting shadows and dulling down the highlights etc.
But as street goes no one could complain.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

JD750 wrote:

I call this image "Act of Kindness". It... (show quote)

Yes, it does convey that emotion and, as such, is a success. In my nascent street work, I've tried to stay away from the people forced to live on the street. It seems difficult to portray them in a way that gives them any dignity. This shot is different. It is all about human interaction and has very little to do with the fact that the woman seated actually has to live on the street. Nicely seen and nicely executed.
Erich

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Billyspad wrote:

A magic moment and you did what you could to capture it. It tells the story well and gives one faith in the human race not always to just look after number one.
If this was shot in RAW I think there are improvements that could be made if your PP skills run to it. Lifting shadows and dulling down the highlights etc.
But as street goes no one could complain.

Thank you Billy.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

ebrunner wrote:

Yes, it does convey that emotion and, as such, is a success. In my nascent street work, I've tried to stay away from the people forced to live on the street. It seems difficult to portray them in a way that gives them any dignity. This shot is different. It is all about human interaction and has very little to do with the fact that the woman seated actually has to live on the street. Nicely seen and nicely executed.
Erich

Again thank you.

ncshutterbug

I think it's a great shot. The thing that hit me first is that the pizza lady is the one that is in rags. The homeless woman is dressed better than her! What a crazy world! Very touching sentiment anyway.

Dave Chinn

JD750 wrote:

I call this image "Act of Kindness". It... (show quote)

This is an image of street photography thats not seen very often. Nice capture, and if you had not been so attentive you would have missed it, which I'm guilty of most of the time. Your story line adds to this very much so. Thanks for adding the description.
Dave

JD750 Loc: SoCal

ncshutterbug wrote:

I think it's a great shot. The thing that hit me first is that the pizza lady is the one that is in rags. The homeless woman is dressed better than her! What a crazy world! Very touching sentiment anyway.

Yes as she passed me I first thought she was homeless, but I quickly realized that she was wearing fashion clothing that was designed to give that look.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Dave Chinn wrote:

This is an image of street photography thats not seen very often. Nice capture, and if you had not been so attentive you would have missed it, which I'm guilty of most of the time. Your story line adds to this very much so. Thanks for adding the description.
Dave

Thank you.

JohnFrim Loc: Somewhere in the Great White North.

It's all about timing sometimes. This is a great photo op, and the only minor comment I would have is that the shot was a fraction of a second too late.

When I first looked at the photo I was not sure which way the slice of pizza was actually going. Clearly, it was being given to the seated lady. But perhaps a moment earlier in time where the pizza was still in the hand of the delivery gal, conveying that the seated lady was in need; or when both were holding it, suggesting an act of sharing -- these might have been slightly stronger emotional captures.

But that is nit-picking. Congrats on recognizing an upcoming opportunity and being quick enough to get the shot.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

JD750 wrote:

I call this image "Act of Kindness". It... (show quote)

Good capture of a unique moment. These are the sorts of candid street shots I'm always looking for - the interaction between people that reinforces our shared humanity across barriers. There is a lot of discussion about what is best - taking shots of people who are in eye contact with you or people who are going about their daily business. This shot would be useless if you'd called attention to yourself and had them looking at you. This is an excellent example of the work of an un-noticed photographer.

I would probably raise the shadows some just to make the interaction more immediately obvious, because I think the facial expression of the seated woman is priceless. But this of course is an artistic decision of the photographer.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

minniev wrote:

Good capture of a unique moment. These are the so... (show quote)

Thank you Minni.