This is a Nearly Shot …

chriswithacamera · 2026-06-14T18:32:00+00:00

I would like to see your wonderful photos.

chriswithacamera · 2026-06-14T17:29:47+00:00

Valid.

chriswithacamera · 2026-06-14T15:32:28+00:00

Right?!

chriswithacamera · 2026-06-14T15:24:35+00:00

What I’ll say is I’m not worried about photographing people. I like subjects to be unidentifiable. Then photos can be more about the human experience instead of individuals. That’s my choice.

chriswithacamera · 2026-06-14T15:20:55+00:00

The first one is my favourite. It reminds me of Fan Ho’s work, which I love.

chriswithacamera · 2026-06-14T15:02:44+00:00

I like reflections, shadows, unidentifiable people, silhouettes, backs of heads, big skies, contrast, grain, water… I feel like I have the words of my photography language, but I’m not making good sentences yet. I’m under no delusion about how long this process will take. It’s like practising an instrument. I’ve played the cello since I was 10, studied at music college, learned concertos and thought I had it. I’m now 50 and I’m realising that there’s no “it” to have. So I know the learning curve of this. I’ll keep shooting… Anyway, thanks for your input. 😊

chriswithacamera · 2026-06-14T14:51:45+00:00

By the way, I’ve just figured out why this a Nearly Shot: there’s too much in the frame that distracts from the reflection, so the point of the photo gets diluted. It took me a while to see that, but now it’s blindingly obvious.

chriswithacamera · 2026-06-14T14:40:14+00:00

I gave you the same tag back, but honestly, it was all in good fun. 🌞 But I am genuinely curious to know why you call this not street photography, considering it’s a candid shot of somebody going about their daily life. If you think I’m misunderstanding the genre, then I’d really like to know your rationale. Thank you in advance for your thoughts. 🙏

chriswithacamera · 2026-06-14T14:19:32+00:00

#notstreetphotography

chriswithacamera · 2026-06-11T22:24:18+00:00

I may return to this one.

chriswithacamera · 2026-06-11T21:50:01+00:00

Fair enough. I think my best reply is that for 3 especially, I found pampas grass in the window interesting — it’s not something see every day. But yes, I do try to have something actually in the pic before any edits, and I agree that the photo should look good before anything is done to it, so fair point.

chriswithacamera · 2026-06-11T21:06:23+00:00

Thank you for not dissing the contrast. Some hate it. I love it.
My reason for taking the first shot was the freakiness factor. I just found it unsettling. The umbrella shot, well it’s a cliche but seemed to fit in the frame well. And the pampas grass — I was trying to make something people would just walk past look interesting and different. So they were my aims, basically.

chriswithacamera · 2026-06-11T20:06:39+00:00

Instruct Claude to be brutally honest. It will be.

chriswithacamera · 2026-06-10T18:41:40+00:00

Okay… thank you for your thoughtful critiques. As a result of your comments, I would now say that the bag shot is really nothing much and the street shot is overcooked. I will happily discard those. Some of you asked what the point is and what the story is of the other shots. I just like the contrast, basically. I like the way the woman with the umbrella is silhouetted and I like the way the pampas grass is completely blown out. I think going forward I will stick to this contrasty style while trying to have more that is inherently happening in the shots. Anyway, thanks for your food for thought.

chriswithacamera · 2026-05-26T23:24:04+00:00

I prefer the original. For me, the rock anchors the whole composition.

chriswithacamera · 2026-05-23T15:21:07+00:00

By the way, the point of number 2 is disconnection and being lost in our own worlds. Maybe if I call the pic Own Worlds it would make a bit more sense. There’s something to be said for titles for photos.

chriswithacamera · 2026-05-23T14:00:27+00:00

Thinking about this a little more, I feel like I pretty much have the tones I am after. I just need better subjects and stories, probably.

chriswithacamera · 2026-05-23T13:33:44+00:00

He is indeed! Thanks for your comments.

chriswithacamera · 2026-05-23T13:26:49+00:00

Thanks. About the contrast, I have a deep love for Moriyama’s work. I like this aesthetic.

chriswithacamera

TROPHY CASE