A public Tete-a-Tete...

[Paul Abbott]

Here is another moment I caught and captured on the same day as my last few.

These persons mirrored mannerisms with their arms had appealed at first but then when they looked around at me they're eyes had some great catch-lights which were mirrored too...a fleeting moment in time.
Anyway, the homeless hoarder is being questioned and cared for by a social care-worker about her situation on this part of the street, and her taking up residence on this public seat.

Again, it's another out of camera JPEG. No detail of those cranes or any other fine detail is lost in the background against that bright sky, whereas with the RAW file it has to be recovered slightly...

Tete-a-Tete, London '13 - Paul Abbott
RICOH GR​

 

[Asher Kelman]

Paul,

Which one is the social worker, there one seated? And is that her official issue bike?

Asher

 

[James Lemon]

This is a an interesting composition Paul. At first glance it seams to be a bit top heavy because of the brightness and the bold horizontal line but I come back around to the right corner of the frame to observe the the scattered belongings and people. The tension it creates fits well with the chaotic scene.

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

Hi Paul,

Nice capture. But referring to the camera created b&w jpg discussion, this is a very good example of when the built in conversion to b&w fails. You can do a much better conversion and assign tonalities using raw as your starting point.

 

[Paul Abbott]

Hey Asher, the one seated is indeed the care-worker in her hi-vis' jacket. Personally, I see a lot going on in this photo as well as the other things i've mentioned.
For instance, you could construe who is the talker and who is the listener by where they're hands are positioned. Also, on one side of the bench is a symbol of mobility, whereas on the other side it reflects a static and inert position....a 'different sides of the fence' feeling maybe.

Hey James, are you thinking that you'd like to see the bright top quarter of the frame lowered in contrast? Thanks for your comment...

 

[Paul Abbott]

Hey Cem, your right about processing RAW's but I don't have a problem with what this camera is putting out by way of a B&W JPEG. Of course i'm going to make a tweak or two here or there, but i'm finding I don't need the RAW image to do it...

Btw, this is more 'documentary' than 'street'.

Millbank, London '13 - Paul Abbott​

 

[Asher Kelman]

Hey Cem, your right about processing RAW's but I don't have a problem with what this camera is putting out by way of a B&W JPEG. Of course i'm going to make a tweak or two here or there, but i'm finding I don't need the RAW image to do it...

Btw, this is more 'documentary' than 'street'.

Millbank, London '13 - Paul Abbott​

Paul,

I like the insight of the mobile free and the bogged down with flotsam division of the image. The over-exposed b.g. is fine by me as it allows this portion of the planet to be isolated from the detailed larger machine-like fast-paced non-stop reality of city life. If you correct what appears to be a flaw, you create a hole through with magic escapes from the picture, so beware!

Yes, it's documentary and there's good and bad to that. It's great that there are trained people with the heart, capability and funding to reach out to homeless. Second it's tragic that we can't successfully address homelessness and mental illness in our rich giant Western societies.

Then, besides the inherent accurate documentary value of this picture, (and I'd hope you'd send it to a number of newspapers and the social agency itself), this is a superb street photograph that's far more socially important than almost any of the pictures i can recall having seen from you!

I hope you manage to pursue this rare skill of not only finding what's important, but also photographing it in a fresh and commanding manner.

Kudos!

Asher

 

[Paul Abbott]

The thing is Asher, the background is not over-exposed at all...Out of focus yeah, but not over-exposed.

I'm trying to see what has made this image fail in tonal terms, judging by what Cem has said...

As for her being what looks like a social worker, I think someone has notified the authorities about this homeless woman or she's come by her through doing her job, voluntarily I must add. We have people like this in London who try to help these unfortunate individuals.

When I did my homeless photographic project for Crisis, I was coming across individuals who didn't want to be photographed because they still held a positive outlook about they're future, which was cool with me... Others don't want any help, it's become a lifestyle...

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

The thing is Asher, the background is not over-exposed at all...Out of focus yeah, but not over-exposed.

I'm trying to see what has made this image fail in tonal terms, judging by what Cem has said...

I was specifically referring to the tonality of the standing woman and the wall behind her. I don't have any issues with the background.

 

[Paul Abbott]

Hey, I think we're all in the same position in commenting on this photo...that's a rarity for me.

Cem, no worries. I know I might come across as a bit outspoken but I hope none of you guys think badly of me for it. Fortunately we can post up a skeletal smiley from time to time...nuances and all that.

Anyway Cem, you are so right about the woman needing some 'dodging', not literally of course.
Anyway, I have since done it in this last photo...

Regards...

 

[James Lemon]

Hey James, are you thinking that you'd like to see the bright top quarter of the frame lowered in contrast? Thanks for your comment...

No I think it is meant to be this way. Given the circumstance of the homeless persons plight.