*Sunny Side of the Street* Photo

Photographer’s Note

Hello everybody. Recently I've spent quite alot of time shooting pictures in Annapolis. A wonderful city with quite alot of history, Annapolis has gone through great pains to conserve the colonial architecture and feel of the downtown area. Annapolis is home to the oldest statehouse in continuous use in the United States. At the end of the American revolution, general George Washington resigned as the commander of the continental army here in this statehouse...and some say turned down a request to use his power and become the king of the new nation.
Annapolis was an important port city in Maryland for most of its existance...the most important during the revolution. After the port silted in somewhat and the rise of the harbor in Baltimore, Annapolis became more important as a center for the seafood trade in Maryland. Not long ago, the small harbor could speak to a sizable fleet of fishing vessels; workboats, skipjacks and schooners. As with other centers for the seafood trade in Maryland, the decline of the Chesapeake bay led to a decline in a need for homes for the work boats. During the renovation of the downtown area of Annapolis, a revitilization of the docks created homes for the large pleasure craft now taking the place of the fishing vessels.
Much fine food and good beer can be found in Annapolis, but it is recommended to go during the workweek early in the day...crazy crowds on nice days.

Now, this note has nothing to do with this picture...just wanted to give a little background to the city that will play host to some of my upcoming pictures. I will try to give a little more dtail in coming notes.

One nice thing about Annapolis is the layout of the streets. The streets radiate out from the dock area and offer many alleyways and cross-streets to explore and utilize when stalking photographic prey. Many times I can be seen running to an alleyway to jump out in front of a subject I spotted earlier.

Regards,
Chris.

Shot at 48mm

PS...Slight correction. The streets actually radiate out from State and Church circles as pointed out by Juan. Too much time paying attention to cute women and not enough time to the actual layout...still has the same effect though.
Convert, frame, shrink.

syd1946, Gerrit, dragonslayero, vagabondtravels, zips, AiresSantos, vinicio, parbo, chc, robertosalguero, Dragonheart, sabyasachi1212, PJE, zeca, dougie, designsoul, pablominto has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

vagabondtravels (6115) 2007-01-28 20:08

Hey Christopher

Great comp. Nice b&w.I like the way you framed the person.
The walls lead straight to your main subject walking by.
Well seen and captured.
Ben

zips (1941) 2007-01-29 4:04

Interesting concept on this one. The man standing by the pole in the BG gives this photo some context.

I would also like to see this shot from a lower POV to see what it would look like, but you may have that shot already.

Great Job.
Aloha, JB

tabora (13640) 2007-01-29 4:18

Bonjour Chris,
La ruelle vide blafarde et puis la rue la vie le mouvement, la lumière.
Encore un beau noir et blnac.
A+ Joseph

dragonslayero (3108) 2007-01-29 4:47

Hello Christopher

This is magnificent place for those passing by photo oppurtunities.
The photo looks great, but I somehow feel tha tbrick walls are slightly dominant and I personally feel that they have an almost negative influence.
Still it does give a great guide to the people passing by, slightly too centered but this works as well.
I like the small subtle effects in this photo, the woman looking across the street and the man looking the other way. They might not have a connection at all....or maybe they have?

Odd Jarle

Gerrit (36259) 2007-01-29 5:58

Hi Chris,
intruiging picture, this alleyview with passenger and standing man. A story not telled.
Regards, Gerrit

syd1946 (17965) 2007-01-29 12:12

Hi Chris,
This is great shot!I believe the only way for this composition is the black and white format.It works so well for this scene with the walking girl and most of all the the sides of the alley.Great perspective also!I enjoy very much my friend,
Best wishes,
Thomas

JuanBaldero (0) 2007-01-29 16:19

Nice photo. I like the juxtoposition of the two figures passing by. One technical note about the note: the streets actually radiate out from State Circle and Church Circle, an interesting organizing principle in many older--and perhaps newer--cities. I know; I'm a smart ass.

Juan

hay_kes (28562) 2007-01-29 16:42

Hi dear Chris,
What a great Photo.Excellent B&W composition.Very well done my friend.TFS.
Cheers!

hAyAti

AiresSantos (42844) 2007-01-30 3:28

Hi Chris,
Very good composition in balck and white format. I like the POV and how you framed the picture. Excellent sharpness and light
TFS and greetings
Aires

vinicio (22428) 2007-01-30 8:13

A true "narrow" view Christopher, well composed and with good choice of B&W, compliments, a good view of urban life with excellent skill.
Ciao
Vinicio

parbo (11006) 2007-01-30 13:07

Hi Chris,

Hehehehe... You are good hunter too. Narrow alleyway, high brick walls and their wonderful textures are already created an excellent scene. Then you need only patience and your skilful experience as we know your earlier posts. Her blurry movement, inclined wide street are completes a spectacular scene. Congratulations.

Friendly Regards,

Ertugrul

chc (1468) 2007-01-30 16:37

Perfect timing Chris. The bricks of the wall making lines converging on the subject are really nice. I like this kind of shot (and I tried some with no good result since I was too far from the subject). Did you try a vertical frame with the same idea?
christophe

Manamo (3474) 2007-01-30 20:37

Hello Chris,
humm, I'm not sure this one works for me...of course that's personal.
I can see you are trying to make us feel claustrophobic or something like that. That is well done. B/W works well, very weel on this one:D
It's the context that I think is missing. Either it is missing or it is me who misses it:S Well, it is intriguing, it's the least I can say. People seem to notice the man looking in the opposite direction than the girl. I would prefer the pic without him, would be even more mysterious I think...what do you think?
Good evening Chris!
Marc

Angshu (34093) 2007-01-30 22:42

Hello Chris
Fantastic how you timed the shot here...between the walls of houses (I presume) on either side, the narrow gap creates an interesting elemt to capture through...we do not know where the pedestrian has come from or where he's heading, we are left to imagine...excellent choice of B&W
Regards
Angshu

robertosalguero (110) 2007-01-30 23:55

Hello Chris. I think you used the brick walls very well to frame the woman walking by. It does create a narrow tunnel that goes from darkness to the light. The story is interesting and is a good introductory note to what we should expect soon. Nice work friend :-)

Roberto

Scharan (13955) 2007-01-31 17:12

Olá Christpher
Composição bem diferente, muito criativa.
Ótima captura, ficou muito bem em b&p.
Grande abraço,
Vera.

Dragonheart (8393) 2007-01-31 22:19

Hi Chris,
Very interesting idea to shoot between the walls. I like how you have perfectly placed the human element in between. Good work.
Thanks for sharing
Best wishes
Vivek

sabyasachi1212 (19546) 2007-01-31 23:02

Hi Chris,
Nicely done indeed. Love the way the walls leads us onto the street and to the pedestrians.
With Greetings from India
Sabyasachi

PJE (19485) 2007-01-31 23:24

Whoa Chris I see you have been getting rather creative here. I like this perspective and approach you took in this one. Excellent timing and great work!

izmirli (3283) 2007-02-01 0:03

merhaba dear christopher
very nice black white picture.beautiful street and composition.best regards.
gürkan akçakır

Budapestman (42780) 2007-02-02 6:15

Hi Christopher,
This is a very interesting and spectacular impression. Excellent composition and impressive cut. Suggestive and particular shot! I like it very much.
Thank you, nice days
George

euryan (8351) 2007-02-02 23:13

Hi Christopher,
I love this composition, and you have captured this girl perfectly. Your black and white photos have really nice tones, and this is no exception.
Take care,
Ryan

t0mmm1 (5434) 2007-02-05 15:48

Hi Chris,
wonderful picture and excellent timing for the decisive moment. Also I do that somethimes... wait on the other side of the corner when I hear the passing person... prefocus and shot... then I look to the passant like "you've ruined my photo" or just shake my head to tell him that I didn't meant to shot him ;)) Wonderful technique ;))
Have a nice day,
Tomi

zeca (20026) 2007-02-06 10:45

Hi Christopher!
Very nice POV! Well done exposition! Nice composition!
Regards,
Zeca

dougie (2920) 2007-02-07 16:23

Hi
Very well timed Chris. Black and white is good here and a feeling of on the outside, looking in. I know what you mean - I have in the past been found lurking in Edinburgh 'closes', preying on the unsuspecting! Thanks.
Dougie.

designsoul (21394) 2007-02-15 22:47

Wonderful moment, Chris. Love the fact that she's not the only human in the shot. And also the central pov that works wonders together with a superb bw conversion. A thoghtful work with a thoughtful note, excellent eyes!
tc,
sasa

pablominto (41340) 2007-02-21 1:04

Hello Chris,
An interesting point of view!
The moment is well captured, and the tonal range is excellent...
Well framed scenery, telling a story!
Greetings,
Pablo -
...

jemaflor (39759) 2007-04-23 6:16

Hi Christopher,
Well seen, interesting result with a good depth, good idea.