Wow! My first ribbon. I appreciate all the comments on this one. Many of you commented on the pink hat....both for and against it. After much consternation when I was editing the image, I decided to leave it. I did so because to me it showed that this man does not get to choose the color of his hat. He has to wear what he can get. Thanks, all! Getting this ribbon was an exciting surprise.
My favorite type of photography is street photography. I came across this gentleman in a park feeding the birds. After talking with him for a few moments, I asked if he would mind if I took his portrait. He said "Not at all", and looked into the camera while I took this image. His pearcing blue eyes were captivating.
Taken with only available lighting from an overcast day. I post processed this image with several techniques to try and emphasize his character and tough life.
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Place: 3 out of 488 Avg (all users): 7.2235 Avg (commenters): 8.2609 Avg (participants): 7.1746 Avg (non-participants): 7.3396 Views since voting: 12128 Views during voting: 288 Votes: 179 Comments: 57 Favorites: 28 (view)
I think this photograph is a fantastic portrait,the eyes are incredible,his face tells a thousand stories,and the crop is great.This shot has helped me somewhat in choosing a great 70-200 zoom.Keep up the good work.
Was this in Colorado Springs? I had a guy that looks like this come to my door and ask if I needed any concrete work done (driveway, sidewalks, etc). I will never forget his amazing eyes, and this guy really looks like him!
Superb image, with wonderful editing...the detail and emphasis on sharpness in some areas and oof in others is magnificent...a thoroughly deserved ribbon...may you get many more! I think you will!
Ok, wow, the big vs. The Pink Hat VS. The Crop. I gotta tell ya I don't like the hat much by the thumbnail, but when I open it I get the pleasent surprise of the contrasting colors with the eyes. To me I love the spirit in which you left the hat, and the photo is tremendous either way. Also the pink tells more of the story, so to make you think either he don't care, or he don't have the choice, both make an appealing hook. TY for entering, and congrats on the ribbon.
I love the pink - for me it emphasizes his amazingly blue eyes. This is a stunning image. Huge congratulations on your first ribbon (and on your fantastic score)!
This image has nothing to do with street photography as a genre of photography - this is just a simple, and a rather average portrait. The choice of a telephoto lens and shallow DOF completely removed the street environment, and heavy post-processing killed whatever was tying this image to the reality of the street.
Compositionally, in portraits, placing the model's eyes in the middle of the frame works well as often as placing the horizon in the middle of the frame in landscape photography, but here, at least, it's one good thing because it shows that the image was not created by one of the kitsch masters of this site. Post-processing is also of the standard, glamourised "rough life" kind, with over-done contrast and emphasized skin imperfections.
Congratulations on your first ribbon and a whopping score for your new PB! Fantastic image and your reasoning for leaving the pink hat was right on. Fantastic editing too.
Very good portrait, too bad about the pink toque. Maybe you could have cropped it out? When I hide it, I personnally think that the portrait is much better, but this is just my opinion.
I think I would have cropped more off the top on this one. Probably all of the pink part sof the hat, so just the horizontal hat band was along the top of the frame. The lighting and contrasty post-processing give great texture to his beard and the lines of his face. It really tells a story. 8 from me.
Very good job. This photo is so well done that you made this guy look so good he could be the model for NYC clothing. I know that sounds funny, but really it is very spectacular the pose and the look ect that you were able to capture. I think the eyes might play a role in that as well. I can definitly learn from this photo.
This has to ribbon...I am so drawn to this portrait. His face may look hardened, but there is still light in his eyes and I think that tells his story more than anything. You did a wonderful job capturing that spirit. 10!!
This shot is thought provoking. A face can tell a thousand stories and I would like to know some of his. This shot convays a hard life and IMO well worth = 9
This is a great, striking photo as it is. I would love to see the effect in black and white, though...because I think the clarity on his beard is incredible and is just inviting the duotone effect.
Wonderful focus and DOF. I think I'd crop down to the brim of the hat. The detailing is intense!! 7 (this would make a great study in black and white as well)
Hardened by Life
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