C&C documentary style images

jonniebgood1

I was hoping for some comments and advice regarding the following photos. I am learning how to use a DSLR that I got recently and the following images were taken at a recent vintage show. The camera is pentax K-x and the lens for most was a basic 55-300 zoom lens. the photos are hand held. Any advice is welcome to let me know how to improve on the images. Either technical help (aperture, sensitivity, etc) or general stuff (framing, cropping, etc) is all appreciated. Or alternatively you can suggest I try a different hobby!

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mehfesto

Everybody is in profile! It's not bad, but it's not very interesting that nobody is looking into/towards the frame. It's hard to get an impression of what these people are doing/about without more information in the frame. Look like good characters otherwise. I'd get closer to them - you'd be surprised how accommodating people are, if you walk the walk!

There's definite potential in these images. They're nicely sharp, exposed well and not blurry at all. The cropping needs work though - if you're presenting them as a set at least. They just seem a bit ad hoc together - not uniformed. Nothing that can't be fixed easily though.

Finally, there's a wee bit of sensor dust (I'm presuming its that - could be the lens) on the last image. you should clean whatever it is, then tidy up the photo too!

Hope that helped!

Gallant_JJ

I like No.4

dazftw

I think you are on the right track 1st of all. You are doing documentary type work which I always find more interesting.

The photos aren't great if I'll be honest! I'm guessing you were nervous about approaching these people so you took sneaky shots from the side. There is nothing to engage me with this people when I can't see their faces.

Try convert them to black and white, you'd be surprised how much of a difference it will make the colour is just a little bit distracting.

Hope this helps?

Decoda

No. 4 is a definite keeper.

Well done:)

jonniebgood1

mehfesto wrote: »

it's not very interesting that nobody is looking into/towards the frame. It's hard to get an impression of what these people are doing/about without more information in the frame. Look like good characters otherwise. I'd get closer to them - you'd be surprised how accommodating people are, if you walk the walk!

Hope that helped!

You are correct -I cowered from taking people directly. And also totally right about the lack of information in the frame. I cropped the photos taking out all context of what the people were doing without realising I was doing so.

I have some context added in the following, and also some B&W as per dazftw advice. Thanks for the help, the comments are helpful.

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oshead

The last three are miles better at conveying the story of the day and event. Most of the time if doing documentary type shots, you need to try and work on composition and stay fairly wide to help add context. I'm not saying don't get the close ups, try and get sets of images (3-5 or whatever it takes for that matter... ) to tell short stories of a particular scene.

dazftw

Yeah, those 3 are much better! The 2nd one is great! Is this event a one day a year type gig?

jonniebgood1

dazftw wrote: »

Yeah, those 3 are much better! The 2nd one is great! Is this event a one day a year type gig?

Yes, Moynalty steam thrashing show near Kells, co. Meath, an annual show. There are similar events coming up where I intend to do similar taking on board the comments made here. There are always great characters at this type of show, they give the impression that this was their way of life!

shemwhistler

Have to agree that the second set of three are better, my favourite of which is number 2.

Really nice work.