Wednesday Photo Critique #11, 02/13/2013

Abandoned Shoes in an Alley. Boulder, Colorado, 2013

For this week’s image I have chosen a recent monochrome street photography image.

And my standard call before I proceed: If you have been lurking about this web site and you’d like me to use your image for a Wednesday critique, just send me an e-mail (see Contact tab). That way, you can save me from critiquing my own images–which would be a welcome relief! Oh, and no names will be mentioned–it will be an anonymous critique.

OK, back to the photo o’ the week…I have my critic’s hat on and I am pretending this is the first time I’ve ever seen this photograph…here we go…

The metadata: Nikon D90 (1.5x crop factor sensor) with Nikkor 70-300 f/4-5.6 zoom at 70mm, f/5.6, 1/80, ISO200, handheld, outdoors with overcast sky.

And following my 7-Step Critique Guide…

1) EXAMINE. This is a monochrome image and the main subject is obviously a pair of shoes in the shrubs. The title tells us they were found abandoned in an alley. The shrubs frame the image and they vary from sharp focus to well out of focus. There is what looks like a low brick wall on the right side of the frame. I note no major distracting elements.

2) EMOTIONAL RESPONSE. My initial response is to wonder why a pair of what look like serviceable shoes would be left in an alley among the shrubs. There is a story here and I would like to know what it is. My imagination could unleash a few interesting plotlines, but who really knows? The monochrome treatment adds to the mood of abandonment of the scene. There is a certain sadness and finality to it all.

3) TECHNICAL POINTS. Technically, the exposure, contrast and monochrome conversion seem fine, although perhaps the contrast could be bumped up a bit. There was a very obvious use of a larger aperture (f/5.6 according to the metadata) and a focus point on the close foreground leaves in order to deliberately blur the shoes. The lens used is not a fast lens but rather a slower, variable aperture telephoto, so f/5.6 was almost as wide as this lens could go. The slightly harsh bokeh is also indicative of this type of tele-zoom. (A faster, higher quality f/2.8 lens would have given the photographer even more depth-of-field options as well as potentially smoother bokeh.) The shutter speed of 1/80 is pushing the slow side for a handheld shot at 70mm (105mm equivalent)–thank goodness for Vibration Reduction (VR)! It is hard to tell, but it looks like a very slight vignette was added–and that’s good if it is subtle enough to be not noticed.

4) ARTISTIC QUALITIES. The photographer is obviously trying to imply a story with this photograph. To that end, the title in this case is an important element–it helps the viewer place the image in context. (The choice of titling or not can wait for a separate discussion.) The subject is framed nicely by the bushes and a slight vignette, both of which work together to keep the eye in the photograph. The biggest plus of this image is the use of depth-of-field to throw the shoes out of focus rather than focusing directly on the shoes–counter to what might normally be a photographer’s first impulse. This makes the picture a bit different and adds to the sense of abandonment. I also like the arrangement of the shoes themselves–the near one acts as sort of a leading line which pulls the viewer into the image to the second shoe. My only major beef might be that the bokeh is too harsh and detracts from the mood of the image–IMHO, of course.

5. POSITIVE POINTS. I like the storytelling idea of this image. Also, kudos for the idea of not placing the main subject in sharp focus, which breaks the rules but works in this case.

6. IMPROVE. I might try another version with increased contrast especially in the center area of the frame around the shoes as this one is pushing very close to that most regretable realm of monochrome flatness, which should be avoided like dog poop. Also, a better lens with smoother bokeh would help the image considerably–but I realize that was a variable out of the photographer’s control (and budget!).

7. OVERALL. Good attempt at trying to tell a story through imagery. I wouldn’t consider it a “Wow!” picture by any means but it does qualify as an (slightly below?) average street photograph.