carlysue Loc: Columbus

What I like about the original, horizontal post is that the man has the same significance as the newspaper and the discarded food cartons. All appear to be "litter" and the fact that it is damp and chilly and that it is on the church grounds makes for added tension.

Gauss Loc: Earth

Graham, thanks for this great photo. I prefer your original crop over the others in the thread as it does just what you said; it conveys the man's insignificance and invisibility. I think it's important to include the sign because it tells us the sanctuary itself isn't forgotten; it's still got life; it's active. I can imagine walkers by briefly lingering to read the sign and discuss the coming events while never acknowledging the man.



@ Nightski:

The main thing with b&w is you can't be saved by colors. Texture, tonal range, contrast, patterns, shadows and highlights, those are what matter. They matter in color too, but my point is they're often lost or overwhelmed by our like of the colors. In Graham's photo, I find that the beautiful tones and textures of the doors and surrounding masonry immediately draw my attention. Then the dark to light tones from upper left to lower right move my attention to the man. Success! Graham has gotten me to see the man. The lightest part of the image is by the man's head. But notice there's still plenty of detail and texture there - it's not blown. The darker areas of the steps and around the sign have interesting detail - they're not muddied or completely lost. The highlights (pure white or close to it) and blacks are minimal, and thus add to the image rather than distract. Look at all the surfaces in the photo. Can you imagine what they'd feel like if you brushed your finger tips across them? To me, some of the beauties of b&w are its ability to connect to the sense of touch and to display the often unseen textures and tones of the things we see.

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

You didn't get it wrong at all nightski, that was your view until others came along and opened up to you a new way of seeing an image. It happens to me every day. The day I stop discovering and taking on board new ideas is the day I take my last breath... and that's a long way off ;-)

Graham

Nightski

This was the most amazing description of b&W I have heard. I am going to print it out and look at it as I attempt to work with my b&w images. Thank you, Gauss.

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

It certainly sums up my thoughts on B&W far better that ever I could.

Graham

Jim Peters Loc: Pittsburgh

Great Shot! Although It Makes Me Think Of How My Retirement Will Be Under The Current Administration.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Well said!

wildconc2001 Loc: Chicagoland

The contrast range is a bit strong so I took the liberty of modifying it a bit to allow most of the tonal range to appear. I hope you don't mind my doings so,
Larry

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

Hello Larry, I don't mind you modifying my image at all, I wouldn't post it here if I did.
Your version gives a softer feel to the picture, more gentle on the eye. I wanted to give a feeling of the harshness of life on the streets, I wanted the image to be abrasive and stark. Whilst in your version the contrast is more "correct" (there is no correct) the feeling I was trying to convey is, to me, removed.
Hopefully this explains what my images are about, I do make pleasant pictures and love them, street photography is something different altogether.

Kind regards Graham

wildconc2001 Loc: Chicagoland

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

One of Gods children left on the steps of the church was my first thought before even seeing the title, which really tells a story with this photo. As for critique, just the smallest of things. Top right corner down about 2 inches looks like part of another sign? Also the red brick behind the white sign and fence doesn't look to have the same grainy texture as the rest of the photo. Well Done, Good Story.

MIKE GALLAGHER Loc: New Zealand

Country's Mama wrote: By not posting that though he made us all think.

Yes! Graham's unique here in the way he does that. Country Mama - I agree with you entirely.
Mike.

Bushido Loc: No Where and Every Where

I think if Henri Cartier-Bresson saw this he would be thrilled. You have made your social statement in great form. Beautiful image Graham.

Photoman74 Loc: Conroe Tx

An image evoking emotion - a story to often told -sad state artfully expressed by a master storyteller.

Mormorazzi Loc: Temple, Texas

I spent many years in the newspaper business, where our editors always wanted to see "the whites of the eyes." I've been stuck in that mode for a long, long time and it's difficult for me to pull back.

If I were to critique your photo, Graham, I'd be adding that ingrained bias. Instead, I'm going to change the thinking of my mind and learn to appreciate your vision for the scene.

There's a lot of information in your photo, i.e. "The Child and the Spells" banner juxtaposed with a man whose life has, as far as we know, has been under a "bad spell." He's lying on a church stoop, where parishioners walk by, possibly stepping over him.

A cropped version loses the more intricate, tellable story.

Thanks for stretching me.