Thoughts? Comments would be appreciated below……
Hi Keith. I’m glad I had the chance to review your work. These photographs clearly have an edgy quality to them that captures a distinct aspect of Herald Square. It’s kind of funny how the images fly in the face of the common belief that New York City has lost it’s edge.
I think my overarching comment would be that the moments are really strong. You definitely have an ability to find intriguing subjects engaged in genuine and deep emotional experiences. I like the sense of tension that is established in these photographs; but mostly the tension is with the world or perhaps NYC not with you the photographer. That being said, I feel that the photographs are often very centralized on the subject. Both literally (as in the subject is in the center of the frame) and in how the compositions sort of fall off beyond the subject. I recommend that you think about all parts of the frame when creating these moments. Think about how the edges are ripe areas for narrative and content. And think about how those areas can be used not only as a support for the central subject, but also a separate place all together. If you look at similar work like Richard Sandler or Bruce Gilden… and Winogrand too, they all are considering the full frame.
Along these lines, I think once you start working with the entire frame, the necessity for heavy vignetting and post processing colors will fall by the wayside too. I personally find these techniques a bit distracting and only in rare cases does this sort of post-processing work well for photographs like these.
Again Keith, I like the content of these images a lot. And there are clearly a lot of strong images in the selection. My comments are based on some small changes I feel that could make some of the images even stronger. Wishing you the best of luck!
“I think, I find, I like…..but…..” Who is doing this reviewing, Keith? SOS as last time, isn’t it? Maybe they are jaded. Maybe they need fresh eyes. Maybe they need me.
Love it!! Yes, they need you Lois! It is “Anonymous”. The reviewer does not reveal their identity.
Ah, yes…Anonymous. Exactly the way one wants to go through life. Sorry, Keith. I am such a fan. Sometimes I have to take a breath and come back to your photos. Real life, Anonymous, real life. Aggravating, Keith.
Hmmmn. It’s hard to know what to make of such advice. I always try to see if there’s something in feedback that I can use, even when I disagree. It seems to me your framing is the deliberate choice of an experienced photographer not that of a novice who’s unaware of the whole frame or other compositional balances so I didn’t find that too helpful. As for vignetting and “post processing colors,” they seem to me to be personal stylistic choices that lend the images a curatorial unity.
Thank you Adam. I agree with you. It is hard to accept feedback from an unknown person, who is just looking at a small representation of what the work is about. I don’t try or want to make work that is just a shock and nothing more. I want the work to be able to say something over time. The more you look, the more you see and feel.
Every time I view your images, I see the setting, too. So I think you do a fine job in framing and telling a story. That said, I expect you don’t have much time to shoot each portrait. The opportunity and moment present themselves and you have to react. You have the skills and experience to capture those moments in a strong and impressive way. I, for one, am a huge fan of your work, just as you are doing it.
Thank you Audrey. You touched on one important aspect, the opportunity and moment present themselves very quickly. If I hesitate, that moment is gone. Many a time I have just “looked” and not photographed. I ask myself why? Sometimes certain things should be left as they are, a memory of a moment experienced. This helps to recognize those moments that can be captured. Appreciate your words!
You are welcome, Keith. You have a signature style that I’ve come to know and love. You are showing me a world unfamiliar to me. (I’ve only been to NYC once, as a college student decades ago.) There is value in that exposure to people and places and situations and emotions that I don’t see. Your storytelling photos connect me to others beyond the borders of Minnesota. And I appreciate that. Thank you.
Thank you so much Audrey. I am glad my images can connect with you!
So… having had a camera in my hand as long, if not longer than you, I can say you are a brave man soliciting feedback. By now you have cemented your own style. And yes, you do make the subject completely central to the image. Looking back to the early entries here it is what you do. As for the considering the rest of the frame, well it’s very cluttered. It’s also 34th Street (or wherever in NYC) so clutter is there.
As for vignetting and the color personally I think sometimes it works, others not so much. You have also changed your style with both of these over the years. And will again.
For me, I like most of your work and I know what to expect from images you take tomorrow. If people like most of my work I am certainly good with that. I am capable of creating images I think are wonderful, but to the world are real ——. 😀
Thanks for the dedication to your craft.
Yes, I’ve been holding a camera in my hand for over 53 years. I’m older then that! But yes, things we do, things we read, eat, music, etc., it all is somewhat distilled within our being and comes out hopefully through our imagery. It helps create our style. Hopefully as the world turns, we grow and turn with it. All those spinning revolutions should account for something! Thanks Ted. I appreciate your feedback.
I don’t agree with the comments at all – when I look at your photographs I feel that those extraordinary faces and images that you capture fit into their environment, and that this is what gives much of the strength of your work. I get a strong image of the street in all its energy and transience and atmosphere. I am an illustrator, so I am very conscious of the “edges” of an image, this is something that gets bred into you, and your photographs seem to be totally conscious of this, as well as capturing the spontaneity of the moment, which is quite an art. Don’t change anything about the way you look at things. Please.
Thank you Cara. The photographer’s he mentions, I know very well. I’m not going to copy their aesthetic. I have my vision, my “composition”. Their are factors that that go into this. One develops their vision over time and allows it to flow good or bad. I can’t do anything other then what is “me”. I’m glad that you find this too. Thank you.
I’m glad you have this reaction, Keith – your individuality, your eye and your experience, interacting with the life around you, is what makes your photography so special.
Thanks so much Cara! I truly appreciate it!