Three Against One

[flashback]

C&C always welcome

[Geoff F]

Works for me. A rather 'busy' background but that is typical of street photography. Maybe crop out the left side figure and go to something like 4 x 5 ratio to simplify the background a little?

[flashback]

Hi Geoff and thanks for commenting. My reasoning for this crop was the person on the left somewhat balanced the steam pipe on the right and kept the man with the stroller from looking too isolated.

[Shadowman]

Nicely done, almost overlooked the emphasis on "3" as the two in the stroller almost a mirror image.

[flashback]

Thanks John. Looks like the twins are maybe 1 year, plus a newborn, unfortunately the image is too small otherwise you could see how tired-to-the-core that father is.

[FootLoose]

I like this. I think the busy background with the steam/smoke conveys adds to the sense of stress that guy is under.

I recently encountered a guy like this with one of these tandem strollers. In one he had a young child and in the other he had two small dogs.

Good to see you posting again Jack

[flashback]

Hey Greg, thanks for looking and commenting. When I saw this guy I could only imagine how he must be feeling.

[John 2]

Nicely caught street shot .. I like the overall atmosphere the background gives. My only though is that the two yellow car draw a bit and if you have the means, you could change their colour but...…….. Nice capture.

[flashback]

Thanks for looking John. I tried this image in b&w and it smoothed out the 'distraction' of the background, only problem was it decreased the busyness of the scene, which I felt added to the apparent stress this father must be feeling.

[William W]

It's good.

I think that being in colour (not Monochrome) and also the square crop add to the Subjects 'pop'. Additionally I like the steam/smoke.

I don't much mind the busy background, as you have it, then you have it. On the other hand it would pay to think about Aperture and Focal Length (ergo Shooting Distance) that you choose to preset and use when walking around 'cluttered' streets. You could play with the background adding blur, but I wouldn't.

I am never keen on poles or trees growing out of people's heads. I'd remove it.

WW

[flashback]

Thank you for commenting William. As for the pole I agree it's never really a good thing however, in this case as it's a street shot it's pretty much as it happens (not that the pole couldn't be easily removed but then it seems a bit duplicitous). As for focal length I zone focus with the intent of having the bg in focus as it's part of the environment and I think, important in street photography as it lends context.

[William W]

. . .(not that the pole couldn't be easily removed but then it seems a bit duplicitous).

Ah! - you appear toward the absolute non-editing Photojournalist school of thought. I understand that.

As mentioned removing the pole wouldn’t contravene my convictions: although removing the pole and subsequent street name on it would remove some verification of the exact location: however (I think) the exact location is absolutely verified by the foreground street pole.

It’s nice that you gave your rationale. This particular topic can be “hot”. I’ve had few conversations on it.

*

As for focal length I zone focus with the intent of having the bg in focus as it's part of the environment and I think, important in street photography as it lends context.

Understood.

I also understand the (two basic) Zone Focus Techniques and the origins of them.

Generally, I hold the opposite view. I’d argue that context is usually always maintained, whilst Subject and Character enhanced with the Background OoF.

One main example when the Background needs to be in focus is where there is an Internal Connectivity or Internal Communication with (subject or object) in Background, to the Main Subject(s).

Such is not the situation in this image.

Thanks for replying.

WW

[lovelife65]

The look on the mans face tells a great story. Well done image that is interesting and generates emotion... what street photography should do (I guess ANY genre).

[flashback]

Thank you Sharon. While I have no way of knowing, I suspect that he may have taken the three kids out for some fresh air, to give his wife/partner/SO a break. My daughter is almost two now, I took an early retirement so that I could be the stay-at-home dad and while I only have the one, I understand that look on his face. (And as a stay-at-home dad I gained a whole lot of respect for my own mother and for every mother out there that stays home. There are days I would rather be back inside a burning house than deal with a screaming, sick, fussy, stubborn, blockheaded, demonic child. Then she calls me daddy and she's safe for another day)

[MrB]

Have you considered a crop that removes the yellow and orange on the right, to simplify the image while perhaps adding strength to the contrast between the stress of the father and the nonchalance of the passer-by?

Philip

[flashback]

Thanks for looking Philp. I arrived at this crop because I felt it contained the necessary elements to create, complete and describe a particular story. The orange steam stack on the right I feel is necessary to both explain the presence of the steam as well as adding to the feeling of chaos and pressure.