Smokin' Sax, a photo from New York, Northeast

Photographer's Note

17 of 36

Lately I've been enjoying Hugh's series of photos of New York buskers and street entertainers, so while I was in the city a couple of weeks ago I thought I'd have a go myself. So this is my contribution to the genre; thanks for the inspiration Hugh.
This guy was playing outside the subway station in Astor Place, and as the notes of the saxaphone rose up into the early morning air, the noise of the city faded to a dull murmur in the background. We bought a coffee, lit a cigarette, and sat down to enjoy the music.
It was a good moment. Bloody freezing though...

thea0211, ktanska, riclopes, bombilla, salvator, InasiaJones, vincent24, broglia, john_c, thaprem has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

thea0211 (1365) 2007-03-21 9:02

hi ben,
good composition: like the POV and bokeh a lot ... i only wish i could have heard him, too :)!
well seen and composed,
tfs,
dora

ktanska (21523) 2007-03-21 9:08

Hi Ben,
Bleeding Gum Murphy from the Simpsons?
Seriously, it's an excellent streep performer shot. Sharp spot is right on with very blurry background. Slight back angle fits well with blues feeling.
Kari

femkevdh (2633) 2007-03-21 9:12

love it! Very good daily life scenery. Great focus and very nice compo.

regards, Femke

king (2905) 2007-03-21 10:04

Hello Ben
Nice picture with great DOF.
Reminds me to one of my former postings, a real smokin' musician: http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/Netherlands/photo256661.htm

Regards,
Huub.

faubry (35335) 2007-03-21 10:34

bonjour Ben, very beautifulcadrage and boked!!! i like how you had composed your picture
soon
francine

riclopes (35567) 2007-03-21 10:39

Well, you sure used a good shallow dof here, Ben ;-) He is completely isolated from the busy background. Nice close up of him from the side. I like the sillouette very much, although a better look on his face could be interesting. Technically is excellent and I can feel the atmosphere you described in the note.
Cheers,
Ricardo

bombilla (3404) 2007-03-21 11:20

Hey, Ben, that's as cool as a lick from Eric Dolphy. Thanks to your super DOF work (and with film no less), he seems to be blowing technicolor notes right out of his bell. I got to get me a corduroy jacket like that. Thanks for the nod. I'm honored to have been able to inspire such a sharp musical postcard. Best, -Hugh

InasiaJones (29343) 2007-03-21 12:44

Hi Ben,

How cool is this!.. So urban, so NY! I certainly enjoy the spirit of the Big Apple you’ve captured in this scene.

I really like the shallow depth of field, with a great bokeh, that isolate the saxophonist. Good composition, great cropping and natural colours.

Well done!

André

sadeik (3264) 2007-03-21 13:39

Absolutly agree greta dof and pov although for me a tiny bit to much contrast on the fella where the light hits him. Excellant shot though

Simon

tcht (7565) 2007-03-21 15:41

Hi Ben
superb NY pic here. good light too on that shiny brass and I like how you capture him facin away. maybe a bit better if you aimed slightly lower but this is still realli good.
Cheers
CheukHin

robiuk (10805) 2007-03-21 19:13

Hi Ben,
good colours in this one & your POV is good
as it gives a good sense of interraction
between the player and the street.
Robi

salvator (19102) 2007-03-22 3:39

Hi Ben,
Beautifull composition and wonderfull clarity and sharpness. The colors are superb. Best regards. Salvator.

vincent24 (9052) 2007-03-22 17:00

Hello Ben,
i like your note making us share the good moment you've spend in that place...it really smell NYC,the framing is good with the musician on the right part and the nice bokeh around him could symbolised his music...really cool,
vincent

broglia (3598) 2007-03-22 19:04

Boy is that DOF shallow! But it works a treat, and has thrown the background into a real kaleidoscope of colours. Excellent - looking forward to seeing more. Best regards, Roberto

john_c (24662) 2007-03-26 14:39

Hi Ben,
A good follow up shot to your last one, capturing the street action of this pulsating city. I like the lighting here very much and this side profile. I do wish that a little more of the sax was visible, but that is a minor irritant. The tight cropping and blurred background contribute to the high impact. Its a keeper.
John

VeeJayCee (2410) 2007-04-03 16:55

I like the finely judged DOF here, it's just about perfect. I also like the crop with regards to the bottom and side edges. IMO the top also could be cropped if the exact format is not important. This crop would be enough to remove the two dark windows and settle at the top of the brownish building. This removes the brightish area yet leaves some lightness around the musician's hat. Nice work Ben.

Burberry1 (6041) 2007-04-05 3:12

A great portrait Ben!!
I like the unique POV , coloring and blured background.
Fine work,

A.

Luko (13978) 2007-04-07 9:20

Perhaps on the magenta side (that's the famous Fuji slide scanning disease, they're always on the magenta side) but apart from that, that's a flawless street portrait, background is awesome.

scobert (5355) 2007-04-10 12:48

Hello Ben,
Good capture of yours of this street musician. People don't seem to appreciate these musicians who are trying to brighting up our hectic days. Nice soft focus on the background. You must have use a short telephoto with a wide aperture. Good Job!
Stan

Polonaise (5796) 2008-04-06 18:52

Being in New York and not listening for a while to the street musician playing sax is like being in Rome and not having a romance with the nun !!!

Simply irresistible !!!

You have to stop in your run and drop a coin or two...

YOU HAVE TO !!!

A capito ???

Great piece of a street photography, Ben

(;-)))

george

g.