homeless

[opus]

This is a shot I took last fall at the Chicago gathering. I didn't get the focus just right on it so I've passed it over until now. But I decided to mess with it in photoshop and try to minimize the problem and salvage the shot. I've desaturated, cropped, and added a special artistic filter effect (crosshatch), among other things.

So, have I succeeded?

[jar_e]

Kelly,

I'm not sure. I like the idea of this shot, yet the DOF and focus level just doesn't feel right for me. Everything else works for me color, comp, subject, I just wonder what it would look like if he was a little more sharper. That can be PS'ed though, and regardless, a nice shot.

Jared

[OldSchool]

Ha! Figures you'd beat me to it.
Cheers Jared,
Tim

[OldSchool]

Hi kelly,

Looks like us two are up late, eh? Being from the Left coast, it's probably later for you.

I like your shot. It tells a story that's becoming too familiar. Good composition. But what needs a little work is leveling the shot and dealing somehow with the blown upper right corner. This may be a candidate for a tasteful B&W conversion.

Cheers,
Tim

[opus]

Tim, I purposefully increased the contrast to add some "starkness" to the shot. So you're saying I should take it back out? (yes it's late, it's 1:38 am right now. )


Jared, thanks for your opinion. I sharpened it some, but didn't want to go overboard with it. I thought maybe an artistic filter would be more forgiving with the focus .. you know .. artists aren't always sharp and clean on their edges, especially in some types of media. But I guess this particular effect didn't do the trick.

I'll keep playing with it, just because I really want to salvage the shot for the subject matter. I got another, great shot of him looking at me from under his cap, but the whole right side of the picture is blocked by some body walking right in front of the camera.

[OldSchool]

Hi kelly,

No. I miss-typed. I think the starkness adds to the mood. I'm suggest a black and white conversion (with starkness) along with some tasteful artistic effect to cover the focus problem. If it's B&W, the blown corner may not look so glaring. May work. May not. Never know till you try.

Have fun with it,
Tim

[Bajan]

Pity the focus was not right, this is a good picture to depict the plight of the homeless. It draws one into the pic but then shoots you past (as though you were ignoring the subject) with the expanse of walkway surrounding the guy. I also have some issues with the upper right corner and would seek to minimize them as it takes away from the picture. However the composition is still top notch.

[mdmc]

This has it's faults, however it very effectivly conveys the feeling to me. The cup is a nice touch,
Mark

[gahspidy]

This works well, for me. I get a strong feeling from this and like how the man is propped up on the wall with the open street blurred out behind him. I only wish there was a bit of light falling on him or his face, but still it is effective. did you add the effect to the bg because there was too much dof?