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The tourist and the locals
The tourist and the locals
Melethia


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Street Photography III (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: Challenges 2008
Camera: Canon EOS-30D
Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS
Location: Wiesbaden
Date: Oct 24, 2008
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 125
Shutter: 125
Date Uploaded: Oct 26, 2008

 Pressure much? I'm VERY flattered by the attention in the thread discussing this challenge. I don't know that I'm truly a "street photographer" - most associate street photography with the downtrodden, society's oddballs, etc - I just like shooting people in all walks of life. And I like going out to find pictures, rather than setting them up. So you'd think I'd have awesome pics for this, wouldn't you? I did shoot a lot. :-)

I picked this one to enter for a few reasons. It's odd - the composition definitely isn't standard. I liked the look on her face - she seems rather stern, doesn't she? I like that he looks like her - one would assume they've been married a very long time. I wonder if there's significance to the fact he's walking a step or two behind her. I suspect there is. And then there are at least four other elements in the shot that are things I like to shoot - the elegance and beauty of European buildings and cobblestones; a tourist taking a picture; a bicycle; and of course, a pigeon. Pity there was only the one, and no I didn't see it at the time - that was a happy accident. Oh, and yes I know there's a pole right in the middle of the picture. :-)

Editing: This is cropped a bit but remains in the native camera aspect ratio. I cropped a gentleman in the distance on the right and the name of the building the tourist is shooting. Granted, probably only our German members would recognize it, but I do want to see if anyone guesses this is mine and didn't want any obvious hints. I did take advantage of advanced editing - there was a bit of a lamp hanging into the picture over his head, and I did a bit of contrast using the soft light blending mode on my levels layer (I think it was) then erased that off of her coat to keep some detail. Added a wee bit of vignetting to the left side as well.

I'm not concerned about the score for this one. It will be whatever it will be. I'm more looking forward to seeing what everyone else submits!

Why do I write such drivel in this space?

Statistics
Place: 42 out of 146
Avg (all users): 5.8935
Avg (commenters): 6.7000
Avg (participants): 5.9107
Avg (non-participants): 5.8850
Views since voting: 878
Views during voting: 369
Votes: 169
Comments: 20
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
 11/04/2008 01:26:58 PM
Oh that lady's face with her husband in tow...clearly, a marriage made in Heaven...haha! With the oblivious tourist in the background taking a photo...the door?!, this photo has street style and above all...CHARACTER!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/03/2008 01:56:03 PM
Deb, I love your shot. It's interesting, the tones are fab, also great focus and composition. We (who live in Germany) must be careful that we don't end up with stern faces like your lady ;-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/03/2008 09:59:28 AM
I love the drivel :) Stories behind the pictures make them so much more personal for the viewer. I love this! This is my kind of photography. I love the perspective of the large empty cobblestone street with only a very few people on it. And like you titled it, the tourist and the old couple going about their every-day routine.

You still own the Street Photography genre!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/03/2008 08:10:07 AM
I had no idea it was you. This is an excellent street photo and got high marks from me. It's got that sense of being authentic and yet well-structured at the same time.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/03/2008 05:56:17 AM
Another shot rich in textures, tensions and geometry.

Nice diagonal cutting through the cobbles leading us from the near couple to the far tourist. Two sets of people both literally and metaphorically wiht their backs to each other - one set going about everyday life, looking grumpy and apprently not taking in their ornate surroundings while the tourist is so fascinated with the surroundings that she apparently hasn't noticed the people.

You have columns, pillars, lamp stands, cobbles, spokes radiating out (in the cobbles) from the central lampstand. A picture full of detail that benefits from people pausing to take in the richness of the image.

The fianl touch for me would have been if you could have tweaked the lighting to get it a little more like your 'Strasbourg Tourists shot' and really drag the textures out.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/03/2008 01:41:16 AM
I too like the oddness and that great expanse of cobble, and Mrs. HappyFace.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/03/2008 01:38:39 AM
I love this shot. It has to be Germany, judging by the look on the woman's face -- such disapproval. I really like the range you got in this shot, with the tourist in the back. I like the texture of the pavement, and I like the median (or round-about) with the lines of the pavers radiating out.

It's funny that the man is walking behind the woman even though they seem to be together. My husband does that to me all the time, and it really annoys me. I have to keep turning around if I want to speak to him, and to see if he is still there.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/03/2008 12:19:01 AM
This did deserve a higher finish, such a crisp photo with character.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/03/2008 12:12:52 AM
I thought this might be yours when I voted. Looked like the same downtown Germany architecture that I've seen in many of your other photos. Especially the pattern of the cobblestones. Not a ribbon, but still a nice high placement for you. I gave it a 6.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/03/2008 12:12:22 AM
hmmm there's no walkies in the photo! where's the walkies? what i love about your black and whites are the clarity of the textures and the tones are always fabulous. The woman certainly does look grumpy lol. And it looks like she could give a good whack with that handbag too. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
11/02/2008 09:49:54 PM
nicely composed juxtaposition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/02/2008 08:58:58 AM
A telling photo indeed ... needs a little uping in the contrast in my opinion
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/02/2008 12:35:05 AM
I like the leading angles here, and the texture of the cobblestones. A nice contrasty b/w. Looks like she spotted you taking her picture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/31/2008 08:56:05 PM
Meets Challenge:3
Technical:3
Interestingness:3
Extra Credit:
TOTAL: 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/31/2008 10:53:33 AM
nicely seen & captured.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/30/2008 12:17:47 PM
There a lot of things that I really liked about this photo. The nice lines that run from the front of the frame towards the back, the repetition of the window sills, the slight difference in the couple and the long photographer in the background. Good stuff overall. My only minor suggestion might be to try to bring that man hole cover out a bit, it might add some additional interest to that area of the frame. Then again maybe not. Wonderful shot overall and highly rated.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/27/2008 02:41:36 PM
Gtreat range of view. I like the B&W tones. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/27/2008 01:51:30 PM
Image is ok. I would like it framed with more space on the local side, and less on the tourist side.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/27/2008 08:58:50 AM
I like this for its simplicity and clean lines...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/27/2008 07:38:25 AM
The locals' age and proximity to us let us know that they are staying and the tourist in the background is only temporary.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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