scenes from orchard road


danny man i was at orchard last saturday, saw you working...
have to admit i really admire your style, just casually walking up to someone asking them to take their photos... im still working on this xD haha

was really funny to see the contrast of you working alone, beret hat with one camera against like a group of photographers who were around at the same time armed with backpacks, multiple bodies and big fat lenses.. haha

keep it up mate love your work!

nice photos Danny. Finally someone who doesn't amateurly lug around backpacks while shooting. Stupidest thing ever..
 

for true traditional street photography back in the old days, the general rule of how to shoot was..

"f/8 and be there" :)

Nope. f/8 and be there was and still is used by photojournalists, not street photography. It means being present on the scene of action is more important than any technical details.
 

Your close-up portrait will look better if less contrast is used on the faces.

Frankly, I won't let u shoot me if I know that the result is going to unjustifiably show up all the imperfections on my face.

Freckles, pimples, wrinkles, eye-bags ........ that normally look ok & naturally, are generally intensified without any regard for the person who are kind enough to let you shoot them in the first place.

Why make them look unflattering? Does it increase the character of the portrait if wrinkles & freckles are made more pronounced?
 

Very nice portraits. Certainly you have 'one upped' yourself once again. :thumbsup:

I'm curious about the time of day you do the portraits. Late after noon from 4pm? It always seem to be side lighting (ie. as opposed to 12noon top down lighting).
 

Your close-up portrait will look better if less contrast is used on the faces.

Frankly, I won't let u shoot me if I know that the result is going to unjustifiably show up all the imperfections on my face.

Freckles, pimples, wrinkles, eye-bags ........ that normally look ok & naturally, are generally intensified without any regard for the person who are kind enough to let you shoot them in the first place.

Why make them look unflattering? Does it increase the character of the portrait if wrinkles & freckles are made more pronounced?

i honestly like them that way..

its like a protest against the clogged up "perfect" view of people we see through mass media today...
show me any sort of advertisement where the person in it hasn't been 'shopped up to get rid of all their pimples, freckles and whatever... even here on clubsnap amatuer shooters on their little weekend model shoots will do work to make their subjects look even better, honestly even i do it sometimes, specially for paid portrait shoots.
but ya know... thats why i always come back to this thread... its fresh to see a change for once.
 

i honestly like them that way..

its like a protest against the clogged up "perfect" view of people we see through mass media today...
show me any sort of advertisement where the person in it hasn't been 'shopped up to get rid of all their pimples, freckles and whatever... even here on clubsnap amatuer shooters on their little weekend model shoots will do work to make their subjects look even better, honestly even i do it sometimes, specially for paid portrait shoots.
but ya know... thats why i always come back to this thread... its fresh to see a change for once.

The ad is another thing, they need to sell something, so everything should look perfect, including the model; They don't choose a model with imperfect skin.

What I am trying to say is: If you shoot street to portray ordinary people, then it is best not to alter the features of the person's face too much. NOt to hide pimples or wrinkles with photoshop, and certainly not to over-exagerate them either.

If you shoot for a client, and you have the consent from them to make them look better, so much the better; It is an agreement between them & you.
 

Very nice portraits. Certainly you have 'one upped' yourself once again. :thumbsup:

I'm curious about the time of day you do the portraits. Late after noon from 4pm? It always seem to be side lighting (ie. as opposed to 12noon top down lighting).

Thanks, man :) Yup, I usually shot late in the afternoon because the light seems to be more soft and more dramatic (side lighting as you said). The light at noon is just too harsh for portraits.


i honestly like them that way..

its like a protest against the clogged up "perfect" view of people we see through mass media today...
show me any sort of advertisement where the person in it hasn't been 'shopped up to get rid of all their pimples, freckles and whatever... even here on clubsnap amatuer shooters on their little weekend model shoots will do work to make their subjects look even better, honestly even i do it sometimes, specially for paid portrait shoots.
but ya know... thats why i always come back to this thread... its fresh to see a change for once.

Thanks for the support, bro. I couldn't have said it better myself. I guess it's the realism that I'm trying to go for here.. you know, show them exactly how they are and how interesting and beautiful they still are even with the 'flaws'.


What I am trying to say is: If you shoot street to portray ordinary people, then it is best not to alter the features of the person's face too much. NOt to hide pimples or wrinkles with photoshop, and certainly not to over-exagerate them either.

well, guilty as charged. I did enhance the wrinkles on some of the portraits (i think 4 or 5 out of the 27 so far). I actually thought it didn't make them look bad, just with more character. But I guess it's a matter of opinion. You do have some point about over-exagerrating wrinkles, and will keep this in mind.

I also do some minor touch ups for most of the other portraits to hide other imperfections, but I do this at a minimum to keep it real and not 'magazine-like', as rgy1993 said.

Frankly, I won't let u shoot me if I know that the result is going to unjustifiably show up all the imperfections on my face.

well, just say 'no' and i won't bother you.
 

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For realism, there is no need to do any minor touch-up to hide any imperfection; Just see them as they are.

I do have some pity for the gals. :bsmilie:

Anyway, your close-up portrait is encouraging to those who aspire to street photography; They are well captured with fairly good expressions. There is enough character in the subject itself; It is the processing that didn't bring out the natural features of the subject.
 

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Really really really good in controlling the depth!

A work that one cant really duplicate and am seeing quite abit that try to work things like u did but u have ur style and it can be easily distinguish by a look at it...

Bravo Danny!

Next up, a book to be publish maybe, no?!
 

Great new stuff! +1 for natural imperfections that makes your subjects more real and human....
 

Really really really good in controlling the depth!

A work that one cant really duplicate and am seeing quite abit that try to work things like u did but u have ur style and it can be easily distinguish by a look at it...

Bravo Danny!

Next up, a book to be publish maybe, no?!

Big big thanks, thomas :) A book might still be far down the road. I wouldn't be surprised if you publish your own first!


Great new stuff! +1 for natural imperfections that makes your subjects more real and human....

Thanks for the support, bro :) I'm glad you appreciate the shots. As they say, "It's those little imperfections that make them perfect."
 

Bro you make street photography look so ez. How do you do it man??:o
 

hi.. Danny.

i really like your photoes. keep it up.
 

Hi Danny,

Your Series is :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: I like it all!

It really caught my attention to browse from page 1 to 25! All shots taken are so cool~ and nice!

Hope to see more to come!

Cheers!
 

I just found this thread.... you've a really good eye for moments!
I prefer your street photos over your close up portraits, but they are great nevertheless.

Take more photos of the locals, less of the foreigners ;)

Subscribed :thumbsup:
 

Very nice work bro. Keep it up. You have the style and I admire that.

You are an inspiring photog to others.
 

well done i like your style.
 

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