April Competition- Street Photography Judged By Ian Wray
Unlike your previous judge who I read was sitting in the dreicht UK weather, I am lucky enough to be judging these photos from the Picos mountains in Northern Spain.
There were some really great photos in this group and all had some merit. Picking the winners in the ‘expert’ category was particularly difficult.
Before we get into the individual images, I would just like to point out that I have judged this competition by my own (and also widely held) definition of ‘street photography’ :-
“Street photographs are those taken for art or enquiry, of unmediated random incidents or chance encounters, in public places.”
There were a number of images which were more general street views than ‘street photography’ as such. To that end, images which fit the above definition have done better than the others.
That said there were some excellent images all round, and I have commented on each image as it stands.
Beatles
A competent shot of this art work of the fab four from an exposure and focus point of view. The lighting isn’t particularly inspiring, but that is not necessarily a problem and its almost the sort of shot which could be included in a travel guide etc.
The small details which would improve the photo are things; like timing it to avoid the pizza delivery rider being in the shot, having all of the left hand tree in the shot and a bit more space beneath the figures toes. With a capture like this, which allows you to take your time, it is really important to think carefully about where everything is in the shot, and particularly to look around the edge of the frame. So possibly just moving position slightly to the right might open a little space up either side of Ringo (I think its him?… second from the left). This may then make them appear as a four rather than a three and a one.
Otherwise, a well exposed and sharp image.
Scoot
An interesting subject and you have done well to keep the couple separate from the bench. The musculature of the man’s back also adds interest. There are some technical problems with the photo. First of all the main subject is somewhat soft (was this a heavy crop of the original or maybe a mobile phone shot?). Also though, there are some unsightly artefacts on the skyline, possibly a result of the way the image has been processed. Instead of trying to recover the blown highlights, it may have been better in this case to leave them, which may have given a softer edge to the highlight areas. A good attempt with some merit though.
Prague Streets
This is a striking shot as a general view. I love the perspective and rich detail in the cobbles and buildings which all work really well in monochrome. To make a great street photo, it is crying out for a human subject right in the centre foreground (Think of Cartier-Bresson’s man in a cloak and bowler hat). A well executed view of this street though
such.
Victorian Street
A very competent general street view. I presume this is part of a museum?
It is well focused and well exposed, and most importantly has been captured at a time of day when the sun is illuminating the subject really nicely. The sky also adds interest to the shot without overpowering it. A very competent shot, but not a street photo as
Up Above Whitby
A colourful shot of these interesting rooftops. As the photo is really about the buildings, I think it would probably benefit from correcting the vertical perspective. I also find myself questioning whether this is the best position from which to capture the rooves. Maybe there was another position from where you could have seen more of the lovely rich coloured tiles, perhaps with a tighter crop (or zoom) to eliminate the shadowy buildings on the left?
A vibrant picture though, well focussed and exposed.
Obliviouse- 3rd Place.
At first I was not keen on the out of focus objects in the foreground, but the image grew on me, as they give a voyeuristic feel to the photo, as the viewer spies on the subjects as they stand oblivious to the artwork above their heads (or the photographer spying on them). The use of selective colour is okay but not perhaps not necessary and even distracting from the main point of the image.A well thought out and competent photograph.
NYC- 2nd Place
I like the connection between the white sign and the arrow, and it is this which I think makes this a street photo. It would have been nice if the the SUV taxi was slightly further back to put it mid way between the sign and the arrow to give the photo more balance and impact. I guess the vehicle was already stationary, but having found a good location, it may have been worth spending some more time here to try and achieve this as other vehicles come through.A well taken shot.
Bench- 1st Place
I really like this shot. Thoughtful use of curved bench to frame the people walking past, which has been timed perfectly. The use selective focus with the people being out of focus is also an interesting idea.
In the way of possible improvements there isn’t much to say, but perhaps the bench could have been slightly sharper. I am not sure where you fo An imaginative photo.cused, but locking the focus on the closest edge of the bench would have achieved this.
Intermediate:
Dusk Rises
A truly dramatic scene, and I can well see why the photographer decided to make the image. A shot like this is very tricky to handle from the exposure point of view, but the photographer has done a good job of balancing the very bright patches of sky with the dark foreground. There are some small patches of cloud with the highlights blown-out but this looks pretty much as it would in reality, and there are no unnatural looking hard edges to the bright spots. The foreground may benefit from a little post production editing; having the whites of the approaching cars and the road makings subtly ‘dodged’ (made lighter), just to draw a bit more attention to the lower half of the image. I also considered whether cropping the bottom of the image level with the white line on the left would work, but perhaps the asymmetry in the bottom part of the image as it stands, adds a degree of tension and an intriguing feeling of unease. A good image.
Clock Tower
An interesting image with lots going on. The photographer has used a reasonably long focal length rather than wide angle, and this works well in compressing perspective, it does however mean that we have lost both the top of the clock tower and the bottom of the cars and people. That being the case it comes down to a judgement call by the photographer, in deciding what the main point of interest is, either the clock tower, in which case shooting in portrait format to get the whole clock tower would work, or the street scene, in which case lowering the field of view to include the peoples feet etc and losing more of the clock tower. My feeling is that with this particular image, it was the intention to capture the street scene as it is an interesting view with lots to see.
Puerto De Mogan
This photo brings to me the feeling of being on holiday in a warm place (Where I am it has not be so warm as yet) It is a characterful thoroughfare, with the stark contrast between foliage, the buildings and the cool blue of the sky.
On this occasion, I think that the image would be helped by cropping on the right hand side, in line with the blue building edge. While the overhanging fronds of the shrub do add to the character of the shot, the mass of leaves to their right, along with the louvres and blank wall hold little in the way of interest. Also cropping to leave the blue line in the image, would make the view symmetrical which I think would also help in this case.
The photo is sharp front to back, well exposed and is an attractive image.
Shopping
A photo of a church taken on a nice bright day. It is often difficult in modern times to photograph buildings because there is so much street furniture to try and avoid, and that has been the case here. The photographer has perhaps stepped back onto the grass in order to get the whole spire into shot, but that has allowed the wooden posts into the foreground. There are also the signs and the Range Rover. I wonder if the photographer really explored all positions to try to capture a less obstructed view of this magnificent building. The shot may also benefit from some perspective correction in post processing. Also, as with the previous shot, it is worth remembering that the caption helps the judge to try to understand what your intentions with an image are. It is however, well exposed for the conditions and sharply focused
3rd Place- Nice Walkway 17
I would class this and the following images in this section as a general street scenes rather than Street photography, however…
This is a very pleasant street scene with lots of interest throughout. This is another shot which may have been difficult to expose for, but the photographer has done a good job. The shadowy walkway has been nicely exposed showing all of its features, and the fact that no part of the image lacks an item of interest does add to the image’s overall attraction. After studying all this foreground detail, the viewer’s eye is drawn through the cool shadows and out to the bright sunlit sea and coastline beyond.
I can see why the photographer has cut off the bottom of the pot in the right foreground, and it is not a problem. Remember though,
2nd Place- Carnival in Gran Tarahal 16
A vibrant street scene as you would expect from a carnival, and the guy in the foreground certainly makes a point of interest. There is also a lot of activity in the background which draws us to look and study the image. I think it would have helped though to have captured a moment when more of those faces were facing the the camera. This might have been achieved by really ‘working’ the situation; the photographer bobbing and weaving in the crowd as they reversed up the street facing the procession, waiting for the perfect moment.
The main subject is perhaps not focussed one hundred percent sharply and I suspect this may be a mobile phone image. If so, remember that you can tell a phone camera where the point of focus should be by tapping on the screen.
A good image though with a strong point of interest.hat by dropping to a lower shooting position, you may have been able to get the whole pot in without having an expanse of featureless cobbles at the bottom of the image. It is indeed a nice walkway, and a very good photo.
1st Place- El Cotillo
A lovely atmospheric street photograph. The photographer has found a great location with the late evening sky, the sea, the warm glow of the street lamp, and the dusty foreground street and buildings. The bikes do not detract from the image either.
I presume the photographer has then waited for somebody to enter the scene and make it complete.
If I was being very picky, I could suggest maybe copping out the incomplete bits of door frame on the extreme left and right of the image, but otherwise a great image.
Experienced:
Waiting 4
Another well exposed shot, with the church tower making the main point of interest. The caption suggests, that the image is all about the waiting people, but they are all quite small in the frame. Yes, you have captured this waiting aspect, but for a better more impactful photo, get closer to the people. I do like the lovely quality to the subtle (evening?) light in this photo.
Tourists 5
A well exposed colourful shot in which the near symmetry gives impact. The people are perhaps all a little small in the frame though, which is a shame because this a good location, and I am sure that if you had carried on shooting as they came nearer, you would have got some great shots. Otherwise though, the letterbox crop (not usually used in street photography) works well here and the scene is nicely balanced with the people on the far right and left.
Tea Seller 6
A dynamic street photo/portrait in which the man’s dress and the background tell us a lot. Parts of the man are not critically sharp, but this is because you have deliberately used a slow shutter speed to pan with him and give some movement blur in the background. A brave way of shooting which has worked well in this instance giving a feeling of motion. Perhaps it would be good if the tray wasn’t touching the frame edge, but this is a minor point. A good image.
Silly Walk in Havana 7
This photo drew me to study it closely. At first sight it is a vibrant general street view. The vehicles, buildings and particularly the yellow house really make for an interesting scene with impact. And then we have the guy in the road. Is he riding an imaginary horse? Is he gesticulating to his watch? Who knows. Also, is his attention directed at the couple on the right? I don’t know, he appears to be looking elsewhere. It would have been nice if the people were a bit bigger in the frame, but a well caught, vibrant image.
Sign Of The Times 1
Yes, by my own definition this is a street photo, but really the parking sign doesn’t to me, seem to link to the Covid sign. Perhaps this should be just a backdrop, and having people walking past practising social distancing, or even better, arm in arm flouting the sign would have made a great photo. Otherwise well executed.
Seat Taken 8
A humourous photo and I hope the lady doesn’t sit down! Good lighting which gives nicely saturated colours. Again always look around the edges of the photo and try to avoid having people and buildings half in and half out of the photo.
Night Time in Triana 9
The composition here works well, with the near symmetry of the street, and the central figure, balanced with those on either side. I think though the interest sits within that central portion of the image, and it could be improved with a tighter crop (or moving in closer to shoot), losing the doors from either side and perhaps also some from the top. This would make the figures bigger in the frame, and give more impact
A nice photo though, which works well in black and white.
Happy at Work 10
A good shot with vibrant colours giving immediate impact. The composition works really nicely with the subject making an obvious point of interest, but the frame is also filled with other objects which all add to the picture; the dog bowl and richly textured plant pot and wood etc on the right. The man’s musculature has been well brought out and we can see enough of his face to see that he in concentrating on the job at hand. This will sound picky, but had the man not been smiling, the shot may have had more impact and more of a documentary feel, but still a very good image.
Gran Tarajal Cyclist 11
A nicely done street photo. The perspective of the avenue of trees, with the vertical feature in the building in the centre works well, and you have waited for the cyclist to come into view to add a point of interest. Could you have captured the cyclist a moment sooner, before his wheel touched the shadow though?
The other big question is ‘why have the imbalance caused by just one shadow in the bottom right’? This could have been avoided by framing or cropping and in my opinion would have given the photo more impact.
A well taken photo though, which works well in mono.0
Dogs Life 13
A colourful shot, with lots of detail throughout the image. The caption apparently refers to the water barrel and green bucket for the rehydration of our four legged friends. Other than that though, I am struggling to see a story or connection between the items in view, so while this is an interesting and well taken ‘still life’ image, I am not sure that it falls within my definition of street photography.
N/A
A Moment to Relax
A nicely captured moment with the focus on the connection between two interesting looking characters. The fact that the right hand guy’s head is separate from the grey stripe in the green material helps to make is profile clear, as does the rim-lighting on both faces.
The rucksack and collection bowl also add to the image, giving the viewer as insight into why the man is carrying a guitar.
It would have been nice if the shot could have been taken without obscuring the graffiti behind (but I can see that in this case it probably wasn’t possible), and perhaps just crouching slightly, so as not to be shooting downwards would help too. These are minor points though and I like this street photograph.
3rd Place- What Health and Safety 3
There is so much to see in this image. First of all there is the family complete with baby and side saddle wife, riding their trusty Royal Enfield, which I am sure is the motivation behind the caption. But then why is it that this man and woman appear to be looking disparagingly toward the scooter rider in front. Has he just cut them up? And then there is the other man in the stripy t-shirt behind. He is looking questioningly at the first rider while “stripey’s” pillion is looking angrily ahead somewhere. A technically well executed and very intriguing photo.
2nd Place- Strolling 2
A great street photo. First of all the colours and lighting good. The composition also works really well with the statue and the man on the right leaning on the post giving boundaries to the edge of the image. Then there is the main subject; the couple in the middle and even the captions on their t shirts add interest. For me though what really makes this shot is the link between the statue of the embracing couple with their child, and the signs that the central couple may soon have their own child. Brilliant!
1st Place- Hanging Out in Cotillo 1
A good and edgy feeling street photograph. Straight away we find ourselves asking why the woman is standing on the street corner and her dead pan regard of the photographer also adds tension to the image. This is almost a street portrait, but the surroundings also give the viewer (unfamiliar with the area) an inference about the locality. The squashed traffic bollard is almost amusing. There is little I can suggest to improve this photo.
