A Change Would Do You Good

That's what I'm calling this one anyway. And I confess that when I first saw it on my computer screen I was convinced it was the best thing I'd ever done. (Admittedly this wouldn't be a huge accomplishment.) I liked its dark, high contrast lighting and the composition. I liked her despairing look, the face emerging from the steam in the background, and of course all of those glistening sausages. Now, eight months later and after about a dozen iterations in PP, I'm not so sure. I need some objective, critical eyes to have a look. So what I want to know from everyone is if the image works? What would you change (short of a reshoot…I haven't the budget to reassemble the cast)? Feel free to take a whack at it yourself. Do whatever. Or just tell me it's unworthy of further time and effort.

I've posted a number of pictures to this forum over the past several weeks, and I hope I'm not coming across as too needy. I'm putting together a web gallery and at this point I don't trust my crap detector. Selah.

PS: The image is a little large. I can make it smaller if need be, but so much is going on in the photo I thought the viewer might benefit from the scale.

EXIF: 1/80 @ 5.6, ISO 250

When I was stationed in Pirmasens, I loved to go to places just like this all over the place. Germany has really great street food and I think that Americans don't really have much to compare. Your image really makes me want to know more about the location. What the guy on the right is putting on his sausage etc etc.

So do me a favor and fed-ex ( or DHL) me a curry wurst, pommes frits mit mayo and apfel soft getrinke, bitte!! SCHNELL!! Danke - gut.

Was this shot during Fashing?

LBaldwin wrote in post #5890868
When I was stationed in Pirmasens, I loved to go to places just like this all over the place. Germany has really great street food and I think that Americans don't really have much to compare. Your image really makes me want to know more about the location. What the guy on the right is putting on his sausage etc etc.

So do me a favor and fed-ex ( or DHL) me a curry wurst, pommes frits mit mayo and apfel soft getrinke, bitte!! SCHNELL!! Danke - gut.

Was this shot during Fashing?

LBaldwin--

I shot it at the Kristkindlesmarkt (Christmas market) in Nurnberg. It's Germany's oldest and best Xmas market. I've been living in Germany for 14 years now, and I've come to love it. And you're right, the US doen't really have anything that compares to this kind of thing. There are downsides, however. I was recently sued by my neighbor because the retaining wall in the garden crosses over into his property at one point by six centimeters! I would add that I didn't build the wall. It was installed over 25-years ago by the previous owner of the house. I ended up having to pay him 1,000 Euros for what amounted to a little less than half a square meter of ground + 200 Euros for court costs. The stereotype of the precise and officious German is indeed more than a myth of the popular imagination. Oh well, the wursts and beer are good

I like this a great deal. It has all the hallmarks of a National Geographic story photo.

You are rightly proud of it. Superb use of balance, of shapes, and of lighting.

I can't think of anything I'd critically change about it. It's good as it stands.

Pete wrote in post #5890990
I like this a great deal. It has all the hallmarks of a National Geographic story photo.

You are rightly proud of it. Superb use of balance, of shapes, and of lighting.

I can't think of anything I'd critically change about it. It's good as it stands.

Thanks, Pete. Good to hear that. I don't know about you, but after I've looked at something for the ump-teenth (sp?) time I start to lose track of what I liked about it to begin with and second guess. I appreciate you taking the time to assuage my insecurity

I think it would be a good candidate for a black and white conversion too, but it's an excellent image just how it is.

Very nice.

I love the contrasting warm & cool colors, subject placement, and overall compostion.

Did you use flash? Seems like a slow shutter speed/low ISO combo to produce such a sharp image in that lighting.

Keep it up and count your blessings you live in and around interesting countries with a lot of history/diversity and NOT in San Antonio, Tx (unofficially the lamest large city in the US).

griptape wrote in post #5891612
I think it would be a good candidate for a black and white conversion too, but it's an excellent image just how it is.

Yes, I thought so too, but apparently I haven't the skill/knowledge for an effective conversion. No matter what I tried I ended up with blown highlights and less detail in the shadows.

Walkingmanblues wrote in post #5891842
Yes, I thought so too, but apparently I haven't the skill/knowledge for an effective conversion. No matter what I tried I ended up with blown highlights and less detail in the shadows.

Mind if I give it a shot (when I get home of course)?

It really does tell a story.I like it.very journalistic.

nw85887 wrote in post #5891735
Very nice.

Did you use flash? Seems like a slow shutter speed/low ISO combo to produce such a sharp image in that lighting.

Nope, no flash. The only one I have is of the on-camera variety. And I don't use it because the pictures always end up looking like my 5th birthday-party pictures. You know, the one where I'm blowing out the candles? Just got lucky with the lighting I think. I was also stabilizing the camera against a support post for their stand.

nw85887 wrote in post #5891735
Keep it up and count your blessings you live in and around interesting countries with a lot of history/diversity and NOT in San Antonio, Tx (unofficially the lamest large city in the US).

Hmmmm? Maybe you're right about San Antonio, but I've seen your web gallery...and your icon...and it looks like you're able to get to some interesting locales from time to time.

nw85887 wrote in post #5891877
Mind if I give it a shot (when I get home of course)?

Not at all! I was hoping somebody would! If it works...I want the recipe

Flo wrote in post #5891885
It really does tell a story.I like it.very journalistic.

Holy crap! Over 11,000 posts! I'm going to try and catch up...but I don't know

Thanks, Flo. It's that "narrative" aspect of the picture that drew me to it to at the start.

I also thought about it in B&W.and it does lend itself to a nice conversion.but I still like the color version I think...just feels like I am there.....

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

Anything done to it would just be personal preference. It just works in so many different ways, I can see why you don't know what to do. It works photojournalism style, street photography style, fun, sad... I did a couple quick edits. I don't think they look better than the original, just different.