When I first started shooting street photography I would just shoot everything around me whether it was interesting or not...if it was a shot on the street with a person in it then it was a 'street shot'! The ever changing street intrigued me so I started educating myself with the masters of the genre and quickly realized that the random shots of people i took are maybe not too terribly bad, but they do not tell a story, they hold no interest to the observer which leads me to this shot and why street frustrates me, but also why I love it. If I only I had enough time to have composed this shot without missing a part of her front wheel this shot would have been more effective a much stronger image, there would have been a connection between the two,with him facing into the shot and her riding out of it, but as it is she just looks like an after thought in the shot, a part of the background.but i still like it and I like that I am questioning myself.
I think you are being very hard on your self the missing bit of wheel makes me think that there is an urgency about the shot, they are looking for a missing dog or friend.the processing emphasises the drama.
I agree with John on the missing parts. Making it too "perfect" would take away the street feeling shifting the photo into one that looks like it could be set up, which would be unfortunate.
I really like the composition here. Girl in the back slightly blurred in front of light sky and dark building. The missing part of the wheel can also suggest the continuity of her movement. That's a third of the frame, there's even a natural separator. And there's the boy, sharp with an interesting facial expression in front of dark "sky" and a light building in two thirds of the frame. Crisp focus at the front wheel on the very right of the frame to give the viewer a starting point.
I think this is a good street photo especially because there's no additional, artificial tension created by the photographer.
Having everything in the scene isn't always necessary as said by the others. It's works well as a street shot and you can read into it what you will,, which is a good ingredient for these shots. Great b/w.
I enjoy that there is movement blur to the cyclist leaving the frame whilst the other is static. Had the whole of the front wheel been included I think it may have helped a little for a more pleasing composition but is no big deal. You could also have completely cropped out the other cyclist to make a nice street portrait of the one on the left but I prefer this version as it is.
Since the main focus is on the boy, I agree, that the shot is still a good street shot. But I know how you feel, I'm a perfectionist myself, and get a bit obsessive about some things. But I do think that the boy is such a strong image that I wouldn't worry about it over much.
In my opinion, the boy is strong enough of an image to carry the pic. It would have been sweet to capture the second bicycle as it would have added depth and complexity. Nicely processed too!!
I think the beauty of street photography is in that decisive moment when there's only a split of second for composing.You pick the moment -the viewer reads the story.And sometimes the story may sound differently than what we had in our vision.For me here,the street lamp pole makes a good enough 'separation' line and I can complete the story ,although the right bike is cropped.
So interesting to read your commentary and then other people's. I can also get a bit obsessed with symmetry and composition at times. This works for me, for all the reasons others have expressed more eloquently. The focus on the boy is awesome and that makes the shot for me
It's always good to question ourselves I agree but I have become so critical of myself that I sometimes just delete them immediately and don't always see the good in those shots!!!
I love this shot it does tell a story and the POV is great. I do love your street photography
I love this shot... I am not good at street photography but I feel that it is all about spontaneous impulse to freeze your surroundings, isn't it?.. you cannot compose a frame all the time but a good street photographer has keen eyes to see stories around them. They can make the viewer imagine their own stories. You have such keen eyes.That is why your street pictures are so great.
I have tried and failed miserably at street - love this shot and like how you know you can do better - we are never experts so keep enjoying what you love
Yes, I see what you mean about the front of the wheel. But I think the shot still works as she has the motion blur, and it is still telling a story. You have amazing street shots.
What intrigues me about this excellent street shot is what nobody else has mentioned - the PoV... which is what really creates the drama and tension here. At 17 mm focal length you must have been right on top of them and you and/ or your camera must have been on or near the ground... are you The Invisible Woman? Fav btw.
I really like the composition here. Girl in the back slightly blurred in front of light sky and dark building. The missing part of the wheel can also suggest the continuity of her movement. That's a third of the frame, there's even a natural separator. And there's the boy, sharp with an interesting facial expression in front of dark "sky" and a light building in two thirds of the frame. Crisp focus at the front wheel on the very right of the frame to give the viewer a starting point.
I think this is a good street photo especially because there's no additional, artificial tension created by the photographer.
I love this shot it does tell a story and the POV is great. I do love your street photography