Shopping

[Sergio M.]

40 mm Voigtlander, f/5.6, 1/640, ISO-800, -1 EV

[Shadowman]

Nice shot.

[Donald]

Very good example of street photography.

If it was mine (which it is not), I would have cropped it on the right hand side at the right hand edge of the window frame; i.e. excluding the bit of polished exterior wall on which there is also a reflection. But that's just me.

[mugge]

Sergio, I agree with Donald. Not sure that the reflected image beyond the window frame does anything for the picture. I do like the picture though. A colour version would not work but that is only my opinion.
Cheers Ole

[IzzieK]

Good conversion but too much reflections which is unavoidable in this situation. Maybe this woman is consulting a friend...She has two more help to go...

[Sergio M.]

Nice shot.

Thank you, John, it's appreciated.

Very good example of street photography.

If it was mine (which it is not), I would have cropped it on the right hand side at the right hand edge of the window frame; i.e. excluding the bit of polished exterior wall on which there is also a reflection. But that's just me.

Donald,

I had tried cropping as you have suggested, but I found it put the woman to far on the right hand side of the frame, and I felt this unbalanced the composition. I also like the added reflections because (for me at least) it contrasts the hustle and bustle of the city with people going about their business (shopping?), and the relative emptiness of the store except for the one woman.

I do appreciate your valuable input. Thank you.

Sergio, I agree with Donald. Not sure that the reflected image beyond the window frame does anything for the picture. I do like the picture though. A colour version would not work but that is only my opinion.
Cheers Ole

Ole, please see my response to Donald about the crop.

Color was a bit of a problem because of the outdoor and indoor lighting, but I do like the simplicity of bw.

Thank you for the feedback.

Good conversion but too much reflections which is unavoidable in this situation. Maybe this woman is consulting a friend...She has two more help to go...

Izzie, I understand your comment about reflections, but in this case (for me) they help with the story.

She could very well be consulting with a friend or perhaps she is doing some online shopping or price matching.

Thank you for commenting.

Sergio

[FootLoose]

Reflections are a fact of street life, but I agree with others about cropping the right side. I think it makes a much stronger composition.

[Sergio M.]

Reflections are a fact of street life, but I agree with others about cropping the right side. I think it makes a much stronger composition.

Greg, thanks for commenting.

Sergio

[thetraveler]

Street shots can't often be perfect.
They are what they are.
I think the reflections of the hustle and bustle add to the image.

Very nicely done.

[Sergio M.]

Street shots can't often be perfect.
They are what they are.
I think the reflections of the hustle and bustle add to the image.

Very nicely done.

Lew, although I try for perfection in my shots, I more often than not miss the mark. Street photography is the most difficult type of photography I have tried to date; yet, it is the one that keeps drawing me back for more and the one I enjoy the most.

Thank you for your valued opinion.

Sergio

[Donald]

Street shots can't often be perfect.
They are what they are.

Some less experienced people might read that and think it means street photography does not demand as much attention to composition, exposure etc as any other form of photography. Indeed, some people would argue that it requires more attention on terms of composition (background, what's in the frame, etc), so that when the people you want walk into frame, you're ready for 'the decisive moment'.

I'm not sure if 'they are what they are' suggests that the same amount of planning is not required and that a good 'street' image is much more a product of chance than planning. If so, I'm not sure that the masters of street photography would agree with that view.

[thetraveler]

Some less experienced people might read that and think it means street photography does not demand as much attention to composition, exposure etc as any other form of photography. Indeed, some people would argue that it requires more attention on terms of composition (background, what's in the frame, etc), so that when the people you want walk into frame, you're ready for 'the decisive moment'.

Absolutely, composition is key, sometimes the lack of perfection gives a street image a certain vitality that perfection lacks. More than any other niche, I think, street images require that the viewer enter into the reality of the shot, ignoring that slight imperfection. The key for the photographer is minimizing imperfections so that what is left doesn't interfere with the viewer but is just a subtle reminder of reality.

I'm not sure if 'they are what they are' suggests that the same amount of planning is not required and that a good 'street' image is much more a product of chance than planning. If so, I'm not sure that the masters of street photography would agree with that view.

Preparation is key. I am constantly changing aperture or even focal length for the situation that I am in. Typically I carry two Olympus OMD bodies, one with a 24-70 equivalent zoom, the other with a 20-200 equivalent is in my bag ready in case sneaker zoom won't work in the time available. If I am going to be in a very tight area, like a subway, I swap the the 24-70 for a 40 mm or 24 mm equivalent pancake.
Lucky the m4/3 came along. An m4/3 body with a pancake lens looks like a P&S even in the close confines of a subway car.