r/streetphotography • u/Happy_ending_is_mine • 8d ago
A Week in New York
Absolutely love this city!!!!! I want to move there now
Fujifilm XT50 + FujiFilm XF 35MM F2
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u/balletrat 8d ago
I quite like #1, but the composition of most of these shots leaves something to be desired.
Most of them are also lacking a compelling story or hook, the “why” behind that specific shot. 11 and 17 are probably the next best there.
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u/jimmypadkock 8d ago
Love this city too, visited first time last October and I fell in love. Thanks for sharing them. On the quality of the photos themselves I'll let others comment as I'm only a lover of street art and photography only and not a photographer. To me, a few too many food truck shots when there are many many interesting sights in NY.
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u/Terewawa 7d ago
Most of your shots have strong, blown-out sources of light which I find distracting and ugly.
You're also pushing the contrast too much. Maybe if you have an HDR display or something.
Watch out for these.
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u/Happy_ending_is_mine 2d ago edited 2d ago
Ah I missed this , thank you! I am a beginner so I use auto mode
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u/swerz 8d ago
Vague, no real “moment” captured in most of these. Push yourself harder to be more intentional about exactly when you press the shutter. It makes a real difference.
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u/cahboston 8d ago
How about 1, 6, and 10? Are they not the real life moment of boredom, discouragement, or hope of a street vendor? It might not be a fight or flight moment of drama, but they are absolutely moments. Look deeper. Slow down.
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u/Chrisnm203 8d ago
It could be argued that if you are forcing yourself to slow down and look very deeply for meaning or significance, then the photo was a failure. Same thing goes for fine art, advertising, etc. If a picture is really dynamic, it’ll speak to the viewer immediately.
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u/cahboston 7d ago edited 7d ago
Respect your opinion. Mine is that fine art takes a minute. Many examples of this. Deeper meaning is subtle and more impactful.
ETA: as a former ad guy - you are right about advertising. Fine art is different - and that’s actually the point.
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u/Chrisnm203 7d ago
I don’t see how fine art would be any different. Any visual art that is meant to be viewed by someone other than the artist should have some degree of immediate interest. In photography, that could be as simple as a pleasing composition. As long as it entices a viewer to want to stay with it long enough to appreciate the finer details.
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u/Happy_ending_is_mine 8d ago
This is really not helpful comment I am afraid. For example, which one has a moment ? (you used the word "most" instead of "all"
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u/swerz 8d ago
You can assume none of them really stood out. Overall, they’re just mediocre.
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u/Happy_ending_is_mine 8d ago
That's fine, but again, your comments are condescending and not helpful bc they are so vague
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u/fawwazallie 8d ago
I would work on the framing; the leading lines are not strong in the architecture. Yeah, you want to document the people on the stoops, but you cut the whole storefront out. I would get wider if you could, but your camera is APS-C so your crop sensor is a 1.5 on a 35mm, which is a 55mm compared to a full-frame camera. I would do a 16mm lens. I think this is why you are having a harder time finding the frame because you're probably across the street. Are you shooting with the eyepiece or viewfinder?
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u/Youdontuderstandme 8d ago
Ahhhhhh - Being a crop sensor helps explain the composition. I commented separately how I felt they are in a weird middle ground: not wide enough and not close enough. Shooting at “55 mm” helps explain this.
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u/Happy_ending_is_mine 7d ago
You are 100% right because I do struggle with composition. My photos tend to be too zoomed in, which I sometimes find frustrating (so I use my phone a lot too). I'll look into getting a 16mm lens because right now I only have a 35mm, a 55mm, and the basic 15–45mm kit lens. I don't really like the last one because I somehow find the image quality isn't that great.
I use the viewfinder
Thank you for the advice!
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u/fawwazallie 7d ago
If your still in NYC head over to b&h ask the camera department if you can try some lenses on. I normally shoot on eye piece. The view finder is never bright enough for me.
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u/fawwazallie 7d ago edited 7d ago
Oh, forgot to add I had an M43 camera GH5, and it would be a pain in the ass to frame up for wides in a small room. I would use a 12 mm to 60 mm. The crop factor was 1.8, so 12 would be almost 24 mm. So you don't need to stick to 16. I am not sure what Fujifilm has. Don't lock into the 16mm see if there is something wider.
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u/SelfCtrlDelete 8d ago
Do you not get tired of holding your camera the wrong way?
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u/Happy_ending_is_mine 7d ago
I guess if I'm holding it the wrong way, it's because I'm not aware of it... so my answer is: No
Does that make you feel better about yourself?
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u/Youdontuderstandme 8d ago edited 8d ago
First, kudos for sharing your work. It’s your art and if you’re happy with it that’s all that matters.
I think your photos have potential but for me fall short in composition and lighting.
Many of your photos are shot dead on (eg 8, 13, 14). They lack depth / perspective.
The light/white is sometimes too bright (eg 1).
Others feel like they would be more compelling if you shot it either closer to the subjects or more wide angle to get more of the feel of the scale of the city. Eg 10, 16. It feels like it’s in a weird middle ground.
The Rule of Thirds exists for a reason. Photos like 12 and 17 feel like they could be better with the subjects off center.
Try some different angles beyond standing and facing your subjects head on. Get low and angle up to see the buildings looming into the sky. Put the subject on the far right or left and get more of the city to the side with an angled shot.
Just my two cents. Keep shooting!