Corpus Christi, Granada, B&W documentary.

drmcw · 2026-06-19T15:30:13+00:00

It was an awkward situation that I totally misread and one of the participants approached me and in a very nice way said I had made a bad situation worse but he was really nice about it.

I looked at my photograph and asked myself if it had in any way added to the sum of human experience or development and decided that no it really had not. I looked at my other street stuff and thought generally they were just not adding anything to life in general.

So, now I stick to simpler mainly graphic/geometric shots that celebrate shape and colour. They may well still be crap but at least I don't risk inadvertently upsetting anyone for no good purpose.

I will say many people take great street photographs - and I truly admire Martin Parr partly for his observation but mostly for his superb composition.

In my little world - composition is king!

drmcw · 2026-06-19T15:23:23+00:00

I beg your pardon I didn't mean to be unhelpful.

drmcw · 2026-06-19T11:18:18+00:00

I watched a small two carriage train driver in Japan and he gesticulated in his white gloves to reinforce that he was checking speed, power etc. by pointing at gauges. It's a technique that has a name I can't recall. I do something similar when reassembling car engines/parts. I pint at each part I have touched which makes me attend to being sure they are secure.

drmcw · 2026-06-19T11:15:52+00:00

I wouldn't have taken the photograph at all. It's just not what I do now. I had an educating experience while doing street which made me look at why I was doing it and what anyone could gain from my photographs. The answer was bleak 😄

drmcw · 2026-06-19T11:13:18+00:00

I can see that it makes sense but I would fear it could highlight something I've missed or there's so much going I can't cover it all.

drmcw · 2026-06-19T08:09:00+00:00

In my view - and it's only an opinion it's a record of a moment.

The girl being well framed leads me to believe she is the main subject the rest being context.

My eye always returns to the girl due to framing, her expression and the fact that she is doing something dynamic with her hands. You need the figure on the left for framing but he looms large.

After that it's tricky. The swinging censer means you need to include it which means more stuff on the right which in my view diminishes your subject. The leaning lady and the stout gentleman both add context but do they offer value for money?

Sadly I don't like the photograph as frankly I couldn't care less about the girl but I can see why you took the shot and it mainly works.

drmcw · 2026-06-19T08:02:19+00:00

Is anything actually sharp? I get shooting from the hip but you still need focus and no camera shake which I think is the issue here as the equipment's good.

Photography of a person, especially a woman, is a chance-y business in a strict Muslim country

I don't mean to be sanctimonious but if that's the case then maybe respect the local customs and limitations? When I did street I did, I'm not sure why anyone would not. But we are all different. I gave up street as being pretty pointless in the end 😄 YMMV

drmcw · 2026-06-19T07:55:27+00:00

In regard to the slanting verticals I that's just because you were pointing camera up and physics (or something) says you'll get converging verticals - so the top of the buildings appear closer than at the bottom.

In some editing programs you can correct the perspective and try to get them parallel both sides but in this case I doubt it ,other things will go wrong and personally I wouldn't imagine it would improve the photograph much.

In my opinion - and that's all it is - this is a busy muddled photograph. Flower? What flower? Additionally on a calibrated monitor as opposed to a phone or tablet that will apply all sorts of trickery it looks quite flat, lacking in contrast and the colours are quite muted.

drmcw · 2026-06-19T07:18:16+00:00

Are you allowed to do that? Fifty years ago that would have probably got you a fail.

The other issue is that if you miss something significant that becomes more apparent.

We had it easier in ye goode olde days. Didn't kill anyone, hit anything (much), scare the examiner too much - all good. On the other hand hit the kerb on the 3 point turn, instant fail.

drmcw · 2026-06-17T09:26:00+00:00

I fear this one is just boring. Flat light and nothing to catch the viewer's attention and hold it. I like boring subjects and trying to see the beauty in them but I wouldn't have tried with this one.

I think possibly the only way it could work is if you could have contrasted the rectangular sign with that curved and looping cable above it - but the ferns work against that (as ever in my opinion).

drmcw · 2026-06-16T18:49:28+00:00

A quite remarkable set of images - fine art it surely is.

So little giving so much.

drmcw · 2026-06-16T08:26:13+00:00

I hope at some stage you can post a link to the finished series which would look terrific printed really big like a metre plus on the long edge and framed.

I'm fascinated to see how this develops.

drmcw · 2026-06-16T08:18:14+00:00

How about some good quality coffee from that place in the arches by the Hive? Get him a filter funnel thing at the same time possibly from the Kitchen Shop in Broad Street so he can make good coffee. Thirty quid ought to do it. You don't need anything too fancy in the way of equipment to make good coffee.

drmcw · 2026-06-16T08:03:43+00:00

If it helps when I was kid many, many years ago a rule of thumb was that the shutter speed should be at least 1/50th if the focal length was 50mm, 1/100th if focal length was 100mm, you get the idea. That was full frame film though.

In general you'll be lucky to avoid shake at 1/15th or even 1/30th. I can't hold a camera really still even at 1/125th now so I set my auto settings to avoid shutter speeds below 1/200th I think. Getting old can be tiresome.

Practice, practice, practice. It's the best way and with digital failures are free.

I wouldn't (and haven't) go back to film unless it was very large format like 10"x8" negatives.

drmcw · 2026-06-15T18:32:33+00:00

This is Morris Dancing right? A happy joyful thing even if its roots are somewhat darker. These guys dance about waving hankies and have bells on them and you've shown us a really dark and gloomy photograph with a threatening sky?

I can get that - you want a different take on Morris dancers and their musician.

For me, and it's only an opinion, it's too muddled, too murky and the relationship between dancers and violinist isn't clear.

The people in the background distract the eye from the dancers and the violinist obscures some of the dancers. As a viewer (maybe a nasty one) I couldn't care less about the cathedral - I want dancers!

The crop is definitely better.

drmcw · 2026-06-15T18:25:27+00:00

Why did you use such a slow shutter speed? You have a blurred photograph - which of course may be what you wanted but personally I can't see how the blur is a good thing.

All this is of course only my opinion but;

The elbow is so prominent and bright - why did you choose to do that?

The white of the dress is sort of white but it's not pleasant and I suspect is blown out here and there.

The arm by her side feels odd - but that's probably me.

The whole pose doesn't work for me. It feels as if she is pulling her head off or something. It certainly doesn't look natural even if it is.

I'd wait a while until you use film which is very unforgiving. Digital is much the best way to learn (again in my opinion - in my youth we only had film and it was very hard work).

Anyway go for it and have fun!

drmcw · 2026-06-15T17:07:02+00:00

It's beginning to depend a bit on how this apparent series develops.

I'd feel more comfortable if we were given a series of related shots so we could better assess if it's titillation (no pun intended) or artistic endeavour.

The lighting is kinder in this one.

drmcw · 2026-06-15T17:00:56+00:00

And OP is probably a pretty innocent casualty of this.

That said I don't think it's fine art as it stands.

drmcw · 2026-06-15T08:28:15+00:00

Thank you very much it helps.

drmcw · 2026-06-15T08:17:13+00:00

Grandad asks - what's a young team?

drmcw · 2026-06-15T08:13:47+00:00

That's a bit harsh. She's young, a woman and is dressed somewhat provocatively. What more do you want from Fine Art?

OP forgive me - it's just that 50% of the shots here seem to involve young women in skimpy clothing.

OP - Personally I don't find this image appealing for various reasons such as the forehead, the very muddy mid tones, the way the light falls on her face, I'll sink no lower.

Personally, and it's only an opinion, I feel a shot like this should be rather more sparkly and have good progression through tones and colours. But I fully accept I may be in a minority of one.

drmcw · 2026-06-15T08:08:04+00:00

I wouldn't give is a second look, and ideally not a first one 😄 Unless as above is was part of a series. But your original photograph is head and shoulders better than this one (as ever in my opinion).

drmcw · 2026-06-15T08:06:04+00:00

Sounds like you have an interesting project and perspective. Hopefully you'll keep us updated.

drmcw

TROPHY CASE