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Can you spare some change?
Can you spare some change?
Yo_Spiff


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Hidden Gem -- 1,000th Challenge! (Advanced Editing VII*)
Collection: 2009
Camera: Canon PowerShot S5 IS
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Date: Dec 29, 2008
Aperture: F3.5
ISO: 80
Shutter: 1/400
Galleries: Snapshot, Street
Date Uploaded: Mar 6, 2009

 This was shot while I was out shooting for the Transparency challenge in late '08. I liked the golden glow and textures looking down the street toward the sunset. This woman wandered into the frame, while I was snapping away and it really made the shot.

Turned out the woman silhouetted here is a panhandler who approached me once before about 15 months prior. She is actually very effective at it. She is not threatening, and comes off pleasantly. The presence of a camera is an easy thing for her to inquire about to start a conversation. She inquires about what you are doing, then follows up with a brief explanation of her personal difficulties and a request. Her spiel was the same as the last time, so I'm not sure I'm believing her, but I gave her a couple of bucks both times. (I know, I'm a softy.)

I originally considered this a snapshot and briefly considereds putting it in the december '08 freestudy. Instead, I entered a b/w landscape that did ok, but not great. In the meantime, this one has grown on me and gotten some good attention on Flickr, including a very high faves to views ratio and getting explored. I've also realized that what I have here is purely of the street photography genre. Hopefully, it is street photography with some good wow factor.

Pre-challenge notes:
I'm figuring that even if this scores well, it will only do a mid-pack finish at best. There are going to be a lot of killer shots in this challenge, and entering something a little different from my usual seems like a good approach. Not expecting broad appeal. I will consider this a success if it is appreciated by the lovers of street photography, the out-of-the-boxers, and the folks who want a shot to speak to them.

Post-challenge notes:
Ended up about where I anticipated. The most interesting thing about this was the number of commenters who suggested that my title was contrived, and this was clearly not a panhandler. Those were all excellent observations, but appearances can be deceiving. The fact that she does not have the appearance of the stereotypical beggar is what makes her so effective at it.

Statistics
Place: 527 out of 1129
Avg (all users): 5.6414
Avg (commenters): 6.0870
Avg (participants): 5.6241
Avg (non-participants): 5.7284
Views since voting: 886
Views during voting: 660
Votes: 488
Comments: 54
Favorites: 2 (view)

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AuthorThread
 06/04/2009 05:21:51 AM
The golden nuance is great but the pose doesn't work for me somehow. It's like she was walking towards you and suddenly turned back to see what you are photographing. Hmh, I think too much.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/18/2009 01:16:22 PM
I'm not overly concerned with the title (though it tells your story as you saw it) - what I see is that marvelous sun, the rim lighting, the depth, and those few rays just visible reaching all the way across the picture. Fine catch!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/18/2009 09:12:34 AM
Wow, CANNOT believe this didn't score higher. I was one of your nines. I love it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/18/2009 06:09:49 AM
Came back to appreciate some more and find out... classic enough to be Europe in the 60s. Nice photo to have in ones portfolio.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
03/17/2009 07:08:24 PM
great lighting, as ive said before. might have darkened up the silhouette if possible, to make it more defined
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/17/2009 01:17:04 PM
I do not understand the title, but i do not care great shot 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/17/2009 12:43:55 PM
Very nice backlighting! 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/17/2009 10:44:42 AM
Nice silhouette. I like how it appears like a ring of light around his frame.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/17/2009 09:19:23 AM
Creative silhouetted image. Nice light.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/17/2009 08:26:48 AM
Nice use of foreground and backlighting for mood and depth. Not sure I ca figure out the story it's telling though. (Not voting, at least yet, just commenting.)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2009 06:08:29 PM
Great golden light.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2009 01:42:32 PM
great capture - keep up the good work
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2009 10:21:14 AM
to big of a gap between the light and the dark , nice reflection of the sun on the sidewalk.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2009 09:17:41 AM
Wonderful lighting. The tones are great.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2009 08:45:39 AM
nice light but just three from me coz I didnt find it interesting enough for this challenge...

good luck though and take care ;D
brano
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2009 12:05:23 AM
nice feel to this
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 07:09:38 PM
Nice silhouette - love how the sun makes the person glow. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 04:38:33 PM
Effective capture. I like the outline of the person. Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 09:47:38 AM
Nice silhouette.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 08:04:48 AM
Nice glow around the person, cool.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 08:03:55 AM
I love street scenes, this one has a lot of mystery to it.Hard shot to capture
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 07:56:05 AM
wonderful golden tones
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 07:36:29 AM
Strong contrejur work...7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 05:28:51 AM
the lighting is spectacular, excellent processing, 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 04:49:11 PM
Yes. That is interesting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 11:13:48 AM
Wonderful backlighting and silhouettes. I totally love this one. (Voted yesterday)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 06:01:04 AM
Really like the lighting here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 01:19:26 AM
fantastic light, the glow around the person is so cool
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 12:30:16 AM
What to say here? Wonderful light and color!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2009 04:15:54 PM
The golden tones are cool.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2009 10:24:09 AM
the glowing outline on the silhouette is great
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2009 09:59:56 AM
An interesting silhouette, but I feel like the colors have been a bit over saturated.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2009 12:17:43 AM
In a shot like this I think the title is a bad thing as it imposes a story on the viewer - I like to wonder what the story is - great shot for having the ability to fit stories to it
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 09:36:08 PM
I get the image, which I like. And get the title. I just don't get the two together.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 03:41:15 PM
Not liking the tones but I do like the story. Lots of interest.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 10:54:29 AM
Little too much sun for me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 08:44:04 AM
The way the light outlines the silhouette is fantastic. What a cool shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 06:58:54 AM
I like the reflections of the sun.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 05:27:41 AM
Hmm... Is the subject supposed to be asking this question? Because by the silhouette, this certainly doesn't strike me as a homeless or poor person. The backlighting of the sun is nice, but it looks as though post processing has caused the light around the subject to look fake.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 05:21:16 AM
Amazing shot, the lighting is superb.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 04:15:39 AM
Voted earlier coming back now to leave comments. For me I see the story unfolding here as "The Golden Hour". The main subject is mainly cast in silhouette so there are really no identifying features other than the handbag that is being held. The story I get from looking upon this image is a day of shopping at the markets or browsing the stores along the street - window shopping and getting a bite to eat at a local bistro. What really draws me is the warm golden tones of this capture and the feel that this is a quick glance imagery in that we are actually there observing the scene in real time (something the Lomo photography really does a good job in capturing - the feel of everyday life). Those warm hues make me think of a warm summer day or even autumn (those golden hues - leaves starting to turn gold and orange). You even have some rays and the person is wrapped in a warm glow of gold/orange hues. I feel that it adds to a sense of season and adds to the feel of the piece. The biggest critique I have for this (yeah, I know did you have to get picky)is that there are some odd blotches or spots on the top half of the pants of the main subject. I don't know if that it was from the processing or if they were actually there on the pants and the processing may have emphasized them. If it is due to processing then that can be easily remedied. It also might help to improve the visual impact of the photo by deepening the tones on the silhouette of the person to true black - something one can achieve by patiently selecting the person, feathering the selection to avoid hard edges, and either lowering the gamma all the way or brightness all the way. Of course, it could be that you see the silhouette as true black on your monitor and are wondering what the heck is she talking about. I, myself, have run into that situation where I see the silhouette as nice, deep dark shades but not everyone's monitor is calibrated the same plus the newer flat screen monitors seem to be much brighter than the older bulkier models.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 08:53:26 PM
love the lighting!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 05:51:01 PM
eh, a poorly chosen title. That person looks like a business person to me (the bag).
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 01:26:30 PM
nice colors, but the lens flare is a little distracting
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 11:42:39 AM
This has a spy movie poster feel to it. I love the back lighting and how he's bathed in gold. Kind of ironic isn't it?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 10:36:56 AM
The rim lighting and the texture of the stone on the ground really make this image sing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 09:19:45 AM
Great lighting
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 07:24:13 AM
great backlighting. wonderfully warm and rich
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 05:17:13 AM
The title doesn't work for this pic at all IMHO. Nothing about that girl suggests begging.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 04:36:32 AM
Nice candid shot. The lighting really makes it more dramatic.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 01:44:12 AM
cool capture
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/10/2009 10:38:31 PM
Warm colors, nice backlighting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/10/2009 10:13:21 PM
Brilliant light. Love it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/10/2009 08:44:21 PM
don't really like this to well, it is to "harsh"...sorry
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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