The Subway Busker

[Bob G]

Did a little street photography in Brisbane yesterday.

Comments welcome:

[petermmc]

I really like this photo Bob. Nice work. Almost hear the echo from here.

Peter Mc

[Bob G]

Thanks for the comment

[zafra52]

I like portrait and the expression of the main subject, but
I find the poster somewhat distracting. I wonder if cropping
and cloning the rest of the poster out would enhance
the impact.

I am quite shy and I find taking photographs like the one
above embarrassing, do they mind? What would it be
a reasonable fee?

[gstark]

Bob,

I'm torn between deciding whether the poster adds, or detracts, from this image.

The busker's expression is priceless and has been expertly captured.

But I think that I'd rather see the complete poster in this image, or not at all.

But no, I don't want to see it cloned out; rather, do you have a different image, shot from further around towards camera right, where you have a different PoV from which the image has been shot, thus excluding the poster completely?

[Reschsmooth]

The portrait is awesome, it really captures the busker in his environment. To me, the poster, cut off, adds to the context of where he is. I wouldn't change it.

[Bob G]

I like portrait and the expression of the main subject, but
I find the poster somewhat distracting. I wonder if cropping
and cloning the rest of the poster out would enhance
the impact.

I am quite shy and I find taking photographs like the one
above embarrassing, do they mind? What would it be
a reasonable fee?

This is not something I do regularly but what I did was gesture that I wanted to take a photo and got a positive response.
After taking the pic I throw a few coins in the hat, or in this instance, the guitar case.

[Bob G]

Bob,

I'm torn between deciding whether the poster adds, or detracts, from this image.

The busker's expression is priceless and has been expertly captured.

But I think that I'd rather see the complete poster in this image, or not at all.

But no, I don't want to see it cloned out; rather, do you have a different image, shot from further around towards camera right, where you have a different PoV from which the image has been shot, thus excluding the poster completely?

Gary - short answer is no I don't have the angle you are after. It was an impromptu shot taken as we walked down the Central Station subway from the Sofitel Hotel to the City. It was a little awkward to shoot with the pedestrian traffic.

There seems to be two camps regard the advertising light box and this is the crop I chose. I like the juxtaposition between the busker's personality v. the advertising content.

I recently sold my 70-200 VR and upgrade to the VR11 and was giving it it's first outing.

My ideal shot would be taken in much closer with say a 35mm and more of the subway in the background.

[Bob G]

The portrait is awesome, it really captures the busker in his environment. To me, the poster, cut off, adds to the context of where he is. I wouldn't change it.

Thanks -that's also the view I took when processing the image.

I see merit in other approaches also.

[gstark]

Gary - short answer is no I don't have the angle you are after. It was an impromptu shot taken as we walked down the Central Station subway from the Sofitel Hotel to the City. It was a little awkward to shoot with the pedestrian traffic.

Thanks, Bob.

That's always a part of the process that we need to undertake, of course, and the shot that you grab is always better than no shot at all; great work.

[zafra52]

Actually, the more I look at it; the less I mind
the poster as it adds context. It is a lovely
shot and it mentioned above the face tells the
story.