April Tutor Project – Street Photography

This month, to welcome in the start of Spring, some (hopefully) warmer weather and my participation in the Manchester street photography workshops, I asked you to consider street photography. 

Though street photography is as broad as it is long, there are certain specifics and themes that are regularly adhered to by any street shooter.

I asked you to strip Street Photography of it’s specifics and gave you all the encouragement to simply get outside and shoot!

It’s been a truly eye opening month and you’ve all shown real class for such a difficult subject. It was tough to choose a winner and careful consideration was given to all the photos submitted.

1st place
Jan Benjamin

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Though we had quite a few entries where students had shot an image which was confrontational and contained narrative, it was Jan who really shone.

There are a few different elements going on in this image which make it a really worth the win.

Firstly, you’ve probably had to move quite quickly to get the shot. There’s a very genuine moment of recognition in the subject’s eyes.

You’re shooting at 55mm so your certainly at a close distance, not hiding but being bold.

It also looks as though you’ve shot through the viewfinder, not from the hip.

These both take great amounts of courage to do it has to be said but in doing so you’ve planted us right there, where you are, looking deep into the eyes of this perplexed, slightly miffed Disney character.

As a result, this image has humour, narrative, a bit of drama and even a slight emotional depth. 
The trouble with having to work so quickly is that your camera settings have to be on the money. It could potentially be your focal settings, but the entire image is slightly flat and underexposed. I’d always try to shoot on as wide an aperture as possible, to let all that available light in and give you a much higher shutter speed.

I’m not an advocator of editing street shots too much, as the whole point is that they’re shots torn straight from space and time, but you could do with just tweaking the levels here to try and bring some light and highlights into the shot.

I also have to say, Jan, that I had a look through some of your other shots in that album and am really quite struck by your ability to get in there and shoot street.

This shot is really wonderful! 

Well done on a great capture and I look forward to seeing more of your work. 

 

Commendable Mention
Ali Bell

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A fun, humorous image. Nicely exposed, interestingly composed and almost flat to a degree, making the depth a little harder to recognise and bringing in man and bird seemingly to one flat field of view.

Commendable Mention
Sean Seabark 

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A really clean, accomplished shot which I feel again is daring and confrontational.

Commendable Mention
Julia Husband

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A smart composition, using framing to engage the viewer in the conversation.

Well done to everyone involved and I can’t wait for next month’s project – architectural photography. Read my guide before you begin.

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