◆◆ Photo essay on working class ◆◆ Part 4

[finepixpro]

This is the fourth part of a series of photo essay on working class in HK. Photos were taken by Ricoh and Panasonic compacts. Your feedback is welcome. Thank you.

http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/finepixpro/article?mid=275

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Better photographers make better photographs. LensWork issue 50.

 

[Peter Bellars]

Nice shots. Sorry I missed them earlier. All the cameras have done a good job or your processing has. A very good subject for a photoseries. i wonder if you could get some deliberate poses in the shots? That might make for some interesting pictures that have the street feel but yet are not street photography.

I like the spring shop in the previous selection.

Did you process these to B&W or were they shot in native B&W? Colour could be good too......

Peter
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88974125@N00/

PS. People are slow on the uptake here I think probably because of the inclusion of so many non Ricoh compacts. More, or at least quicker comments would be forthcoming if you stuck to Ricoh and asked opinion on the shot from the GRD alone.... Just a thought

 

[finepixpro]

Thanks for your feedback, Peter.

All of my photos in the working class folk series are 100% un-posed. Some of my subjects may be aware of my presence before I shoot and may react rather unnaturally. I never ask my subjects to pose in any manner in this photo series.

A main reason why I use compacts for candid shot is I want to blend in the crowd. Even if I am spotted by my subjects I hope they would treat me as an idiot, a tourist but not a photojournalist or a pro. A smile and a nod always help, too. The huge depth of field is also an advantage to me.

I am not a Photoshop geek and I don't wanna be one. All these photos are originally in color and I convert them in a freeware neo imaging 3 as stated in the article. None of them has been subject to extensive post-processing. I just turn the photos to b&w, adjust the level, resize them and put up a copyright note.

I want to prove that in good hand simple equipment and simple post-processing would make good image. No one need a flagship DSLR, top notch glass or a bunch of expensive software to enjoy photography.

--
Better photographers make better photographs. LensWork issue 50.

 

[Midwest]

I'd like to have seen those photos in color. In B/W that looks like such a bleak, dreary world and life. The backgrounds in the shops and such all are just indistinguishable textures in shades of gray, robbing any visual interest from them.

I like most of the compositions - I think though they would be better in color. Just my .02. "Talent does not ask 'will they like it?' Talent pleases itself."

 

[iaredatsun]

I'd like to have seen those photos in color. In B/W that looks like such a bleak, dreary world and life. The backgrounds in the shops and such all are just indistinguishable textures in shades of gray, robbing any visual interest from them.

I like most of the compositions - I think though they would be better in color. Just my .02. "Talent does not ask 'will they like it?' Talent pleases itself."

Midwest. You really don't like b&w, do you? Does this link with your views on artiness in another thread? (I do share your views on 'artiness', btw)

But I think that these photos are just fine. They have a look and I think the finepixpro has worked towards that look with some deliberation. The b&w tones seem well handled to me. There's also an intimacy and naturalness in the approach that feels like someone knows the life and is connected with it.

Midwest. Coming back to your comment on b&w vs colour. I don't always like b&w either (mainly in digital work) and for some time refused to go near it myself because of its art associations. But then I realised that without great natural light the GRD makes very uninteresting if not plain bad colour photos. Sometimes the colour in a shot has to go to make the shot work so now I grit my teeth and explore b&w when it suits me but try to avoid 'art'.

In finepixpro's photos I think that the light may have been poor but I also think that finepixpro may be looking for a documentary style and that is ok too.

finepixpro – what are your views on this?

 

[JJJRRR768]

I like them all, very nice, thanks for posting these