Homeless lady with shopping cart... what do you think?

Hmm so I didnt really think anything as i was snapping pictures.. I saw this homeless lady ( I assume ) thought it might make for an interesting picture.. snapped off a few,

well... what to say here?.. the shots themselves aren't composed very well.. the first one would have been better if you had either zoomed in or atleast composed without cutting off her feet.. the second's exposure looks like a mess the background blown out with the subject being underexposed and not much to hold it together as a composition.. the third one is cute.. a bit oversaturated and a tighter crop without the garbage can would make it atleast a sweet candid.. the last one... snapshot. and not done very well at that... at the very least you should straighten your horizons.. do you see all the vertical lines at a slant?... and lastly... observing people is what we do.. It's the nature of taking a picture but judging them and speculating of the lives they live only demeans yourself.. take the photo.. recognize humanity for it's virtues.. and don't throw stones.

sari

saravrose wrote in post #3207527
well... what to say here?.. the shots themselves aren't composed very well.. the first one would have been better if you had either zoomed in or atleast composed without cutting off her feet.. the second's exposure looks like a mess the background blown out with the subject being underexposed and not much to hold it together as a composition.. the third one is cute.. a bit oversaturated and a tighter crop without the garbage can would make it atleast a sweet candid.. the last one... snapshot. and not done very well at that... at the very least you should straighten your horizons.. do you see all the vertical lines at a slant?... and lastly... observing people is what we do.. It's the nature of taking a picture but judging them and speculating of the lives they live only demeans yourself.. take the photo.. recognize humanity for it's virtues.. and don't throw stones.

sari

well then.. don't hold back tell us how you really feel.... it actually was a light hearted comment.. I didn't jump quick to judge, i could two give blanks less what these people were doing I merely thought it was kind of funny i didn't see the whole situation until I got home... So perhaps you should get off your humanitarian soapbox now, thanks

P.S. thank you for your feedback on the actual composition of the images themselves, I shall keep your suggestion in mind next time I decide to wander round and snap shots of people.

"at the very least you should straighten your horizons"
I actually prefer the style of a slant on some pictures.. to me it adds a bit of interest.. but i guess that is what makes photography wonderful its quite subjective

ahh.. sorry I missed the sarcasm in your first post... .. but I sure didn't miss it in the second one.. if you like the slanted look then go to town.. I suppose my personal view is that they should be composed that way so that you can tell by looking at them that it was done intentionally and that vertical and horizontal lines within the shot should be maintained allows the composition to take precedence as for a soapbox... I suppose I am... a bit of an idealists, an optomists and completely believe in giving folks the benefit of the doubt regardless of their income levels.

sari

saravrose wrote in post #3207570
ahh.. sorry I missed the sarcasm in your first post... .. but I sure didn't miss it in the second one.. if you like the slanted look then go to town.. I suppose my personal view is that they should be composed that way so that you can tell by looking at them that it was done intentionally and that vertical and horizontal lines within the shot should be maintained allows the composition to take precedence as for a soapbox... I suppose I am... a bit of an idealists, an optomists and completely believe in giving folks the benefit of the doubt regardless of their income levels.

sari

Ahh well it seems you like it up on your soapbox and must have the last word.. so i shall take the high road sir and not carry on this witty banter filling up the SQL database of POTN with silly meaningless internet tiffs but once again I do thank you for your feedback on the images themselves.

Boca... I cannot even begin to comment on the "quality" etc. of the photos, as I am a no pro. BUT, I must say that these photos will stick with me throughout the day and make me think. THAT is just as important as anything in photography to me.
B Blest,
Yiskah

I find the first picture to be the hypocritical one. Homeless smoker! It always amazes me that poor people collect benfits and seek handouts but drink and smoke (or worse). The rest of the pictures are more a 'day in the life of' type of candid. I wont echo the great words of sara. Thanks for posting.

I get the idea of post and the statement that went with it and your correct, it would have made me think about what I was doing. I have a hard time taking candids but when you take 3 of the same person or family you have to wonder.

Yiskah wrote in post #3208647
Boca... I cannot even begin to comment on the "quality" etc. of the photos, as I am a no pro. BUT, I must say that these photos will stick with me throughout the day and make me think. THAT is just as important as anything in photography to me.
B Blest,
Yiskah

I know that the quality of these photos are lacking.. but I think to me the content was the most important thing here. It just made me think.. and if they can impact anyone else like they impacted me then that is all I want... I guess that really is what photography is about... of course if these shots were taken with the correct exposure and framed properly they would be that much more compelling... which I hope one day to be able to do... but it really made me change my thinking as to what I wanted to shoot. I just wanted to shoot models period... end of story... but after this little simple walk around shoot I might have to expand my photography.

ljbphoto wrote in post #3209164
I get the idea of post and the statement that went with it and your correct, it would have made me think about what I was doing. I have a hard time taking candids but when you take 3 of the same person or family you have to wonder.

It was just funny to me because I was sitting on the curb.. trying to figure out my dang CPL, which by the way i screwed onto my uv filter and now they are locked together permanatly, yes im am idiot.. anyway... and just snapped away at people.... I wanted to go up to the little girls father and ask if i could snap some pics of her with the sun behind her as I thought that would make a great photo, but I felt it might be kinda creepy and didnt want to disturb anyone, plus to me I dont want anyone to pose i just want to try to capture things as they happen.

But it really just hit me when I got home that I was so totally oblivious as to what was going on around me because I was soo caught up in my new lens and testing it out, trying to get the right exposures, take neat pictures blah blah...

csm328 wrote in post #3208987
I find the first picture to be the hypocritical one. Homeless smoker! It always amazes me that poor people collect benfits and seek handouts but drink and smoke (or worse). The rest of the pictures are more a 'day in the life of' type of candid. I wont echo the great words of sara. Thanks for posting.

Okay, first... I never (check past quotes and you will see) feel the need to comment negatively on someone elses' comments... until now. We all have priorities in our lives and we all have not only needs, but wants. Some may say that to spend too much money on a vacation or say camera equipment is wasteful. Some may say that to go to the movies or out to dinner, instead of tucking the money away or buying your kids their "much desired" Bapes (high dollar shoes and clothing) is hypocritical. Some say that we all need something that makes us feel able to just go on. I know that right now you are thinking, "Yeah. But I WORK for those things." Yes, you are correct. BUT does that make the "poor people" (as you so eloquently put it) undeserving of ANY joy that a Coca Cola or cig may bring them? Don't overgeneralize about people, is all I am saying...
Definition of hypocrite:
1 : a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
2 : a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings

Actually, I can generalize/over-generalize about whomever I please. Why is your opinion or perspective more important or correct than mine? You're simply taking a different standpoint. I view smoking and drinking to be luxuries afforded to people above and beyond of the basic necessities in life which is why I never give money to beggers. I do, and have, bought them food and drink in lieu of money since it then leads to waste and to the feeding of a possible addiction (both substance and begging).

And now, the photog should feel very pleased with his pictures. You can see how a simple 'candid' has been offered and inturpreted by 2 different people with two totally different emotions. That's what art is supposed to do!

As for the above rant and retort; obviously touched some nerve

csm328 wrote in post #3209593
Actually, I can generalize/over-generalize about whomever I please. Why is your opinion or perspective more important or correct than mine? You're simply taking a different standpoint. I view smoking and drinking to be luxuries afforded to people above and beyond of the basic necessities in life which is why I never give money to beggers. I do, and have, bought them food and drink in lieu of money since it then leads to waste and to the feeding of a possible addiction (both substance and begging).

And now, the photog should feel very pleased with his pictures. You can see how a simple 'candid' has been offered and inturpreted by 2 different people with two totally different emotions. That's what art is supposed to do!

As for the above rant and retort; obviously touched some nerve

I looked at some of your other posts and you usually aren't so abrasive... maybe you need to go drink a cup of your coffee (nice photos, btw of the latte). Yeah, maybe I do too Peace

To the original poster: From lurking on this forum for the last few years I have learned it is better not to post pics of homeless people. It will evoke a negative response every time. Don't take it to hard.

queenbee288 wrote in post #3212240
To the original poster: From lurking on this forum for the last few years I have learned it is better not to post pics of homeless people. It will evoke a negative response every time. Don't take it to hard.

Agreed. POTN is usually a pretty good place, but it can get scary.

Interestign series. Techinically they aren't the greatest, but I like the story you're tring to tell. Especially the little girl on the table.