What do you think?
Daniel sent this photo to me and asked what I thought about it.
Ok, first of all, let’s address the color to B/W conversion. B/W photography and I go back a very long way. In 1971, I started my career shooting for UPI then AP, and virtually everything I shot was in B/W. I love the medium, and in the digital era I know when it’s a good fit and I can usually tell when the decision to convert a photo was done after the fact in front of a computer.
This may or not be the case in this example, but it sure feels like it was not thought of right before the shutter was clicked. I may be way off base here, but it just doesn’t feel like it should be a B/W photo. It doesn’t feel like that was the idea when the composition was formulating in Daniel’s mind…why do I say that?
Because of the location and the light. To me, B/W photography is all about subject matter. Daniel’s photo is closer to “street shooting” than any other genre. With the possible exception of landscapes B/W photography street photos should be made with a recipe in mind. When I think of B/W, I think of subject matter that has at least some of these ingredients: Tough, Tenacity, resolve, true-to-life ideas, gutsy, story telling, and above all, it has to have soul.
The direction of the light is coming from 9 O’clock and is side lighting the person. With this kind of light, I would have thought that it would have looked good in color, since side light is one of my favorite ways to like a subject, and we work on lighting in my classes.
Having said all this, to me a strong B/W photo is thought out in advance, with the clear intention of going out and shooting B/W for the sake and love of B/W. As I said, Daniel may well have shot this with the intention of it being a B/W image. It just doesn’t feel like it to me.
Ok, let’s talk about the photo itself. Let’s talk about how many of elements of visual design and composition are present in Daniel’s photo. In my online class with the BPSOP, and in my “Stretching Your Frame of Mind” workshop I conduct around the planet, I show fellow photographers how to incorporate the basic elements of visual design and composition into their photography. At the end of my class and workshop, my students walk away with what I call an Artist Palette. instead of pigment, this Palette now has: Line, Shape, Form, Negative Space, Vanishing Point, Perspective, Balance, Tension, Color, and Light.
Daniel’s photo has a lot going for it!!! It has a strong directional Line that leads the viewer from the bottom left (the natural way we perceive) to an “implied” Vanishing Point through the person to the horizon. He has divided the un-inspiring sky into two Shapes which really helps the composition. Look at all the Negative Space that defines the Positive Space. What I’m talking about is the areas of sky that borders the lampposts. The area between the lamppost and the building on the left, the area (Negative Space) that defines the lamppost in the middle of the frame, and the area around the person that defines him, and the area on the far right that defines each lamppost.
One of the most important elements on the is Visual Tension. There are several ways to achieve this type of Tension, and one of the ways is to minimize the Negative Space that borders the Positive Space. If you notice the area between the person and the lampposts, this Negative Space has been minimized, which generates Tension. The Tension I’m talking about is not the Tension that comes from mental or emotional strain. It’s the Visual Tension that comes when forces (the Positive Space or in other words the person) act against one another. What that means is that the anticipation of the person and the lampposts touching one another.
I assure you that these shapes were no accident. Daniel saw these shapes and used them to his advantage. He used his “fifteen Point Protection Plan” he received while taking my online class to create this pleasing composition. So, why convert it to B/W?
I have no idea. I’m afraid you’ll just have to ask him!!!
Thanks for the submission Daniel.
Visit my website at: www.joebaraban.com and follow me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/barabanjoe. Watch for my new workshop schedule you’ll find at the top of the blog. Come shoot with me sometime.
JoeB
