Lisa Cirincione, QPSA, AFIAP  


Father Russia by Lisa Cirincione, QPSA, AFIAP

January 2022 - Father Russia

January 2022 - Lisa Cirincione, QPSA, AFIAP

Original

About the Image(s)

From a trip to Sochi, Russia, in February 2014. I was taking a photo of the building behind the gentleman, and then saw he was looking at me. I zoomed in to 105mm and took this photo. Then put my camera down, and said hello and thanked him. He smiled. I’m not quite comfortable with people photos, I do feel like I am invading their space, when they catch me.

Hopefully I can enter this photo for travel, portrait, street categories. Any thoughts?

Canon 5DM2, 1/800 sec, f/8.0, ISO 400


This round’s discussion is now closed!
17 comments posted




LuAnn Thatcher   LuAnn Thatcher
I love street photography, and when I first started photographing people on the street, I felt the same as you noted. When in foreign countries, they recommend knowing the rules of street photography. Outside of that, practice, practice, practice photographing people. Some people ask; first, others just shoot. I know Valerie Jardin has excellent videos on street photography and offers good tips and tricks on her youtube channel.

The man in your photo seems like he didn't mind being in your photograph. You included characteristic features of Russia (signage); even his clothing says Russia, so I think this would fit in a travel photo category.

It doesn't sound like you asked him to pose for a photograph because that wouldn't be allowed. If he fell into a pose for you that would be different. Not all judges are forgiving, so I just put it out there for you.

Lastly, I suggest lowering the brightness; the overall image feels too bright and he seems to be squinting-easy fix for you.

Best regards,
LuAnn

  Posted: 01/04/2022 12:50:50
Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
LuAnn, I wasn't aware that posed street portraits are not allowed in competition. Is this true universally? I ask only because for the better part of COVID lockdown I was a member of a virtual street photography salon. The host of the salon does street photography exclusively and has put on shows and even published some online exhibitions of his work. We were encouraged to ask people to pose for shots.   Posted: 01/11/2022 07:24:46
LuAnn Thatcher   LuAnn Thatcher
Lisa likes to show her work in travel categories for competitions, Michael. In this category, posing people for a shoot is not allowed. This rule is for PSA-only sanctioned competitions. If you go to PSA's main website (www.psa-photo.org), then go to Division - travel, you will find the definition for their competitions.

Everything we learn about composition and photography is just guidelines for PSA only. If you were to enter a competition of PPA (Professional Photographers of America), they would have their own rules, which can differ from what you have learned for PSA.

I hope this answers your question.

LT   Posted: 01/11/2022 07:39:10
Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
.....rules, rules, rules......all begging to be broken! LOL   Posted: 01/30/2022 17:09:56
Lisa Cirincione   Lisa Cirincione
(Group 85)
So many rules!
  Posted: 01/31/2022 12:14:53
Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
.....rules, rules, rules......all begging to be broken! LOL   Posted: 01/31/2022 11:58:10
Lisa Cirincione   Lisa Cirincione
(Group 85)
Thanks LuAnn, I appreciate your comments. No, he wasn't posed, I didn't even realize he was looking straight at the camera until afterwards. It is too bright, I did try to take it down some, I'll have to try a different edit. I like Michael's B/W edit at the bottom of the page.   Posted: 01/31/2022 12:16:43



Kieu-Hanh Vu   Kieu-Hanh Vu
Lisa,
Your image is intriguing! I tried to figure out the story of it and a lot of questions has arised. The man sitting at the water fountain wears Russian Olympic uniform (with the "Russian Olympic Team" on his right shoulder and "Russia" in the front of his jacket). Is he an Olympic athlete at Sochi? The building with the name "Noyta Poccmm" behind him reminds me of Russian hand blown glass items. Are the man and the store behind related? I'd prefer to see the man working on something to make the story of the image stronger.   Posted: 01/10/2022 07:35:40
Lisa Cirincione   Lisa Cirincione
(Group 85)
thanks Kieu-Hanh, this was taken while I was in Sochi, Russia, working the Winter Olympics. We were walking around the town of Sochi and I believe that building is a post office. There was a cute little square in front of it and a lot of people were sitting around enjoying the winter sun. There were some Olympic decorations and kiosks in the area also. He could be a member of an Olympic team or delegation. There are always people from other countries wearing their team uniforms or merchandise. When we wear our NBC swag, people always come up to us to trade pins and hats. It's one of the fun parts of working those types of events. You never know who'll you can see on the streets.   Posted: 01/31/2022 12:22:26



Ruth Sprain   Ruth Sprain
Lisa, I find your photo and your story of how you took it to be fascinating. I think it works well for the category of street photography. Your questions about whether to ask permission to take someone's picture in another country is one I've struggled with too. I remember asking a nun in Europe about taking pictures of her students who were on a field trip to a tower (and having a delightful time). She told me that she couldn't give me permission to take their photos, but if I just happened to include them in my shots of the tower, she couldn't stop me. That response still makes me smile.

The look that the man is giving you definitely is an example of a matter of fact "Russian" look. His backwards cap and blue uniform make me wonder who he is.   Posted: 01/10/2022 11:40:57
Lisa Cirincione   Lisa Cirincione
(Group 85)
Thanks Ruth, that is a great story about the nun and her students. "Rules" are that we can take photos of people in public places, but I do struggle with invading privacy. As I answered Kieu-Hanh's question above, he is probably with one of the Olympic teams, not sure if he is Russian or Belarusian, or from where. I have US olympic swag with RUSSIA in big letters too, it's what you wear at the Olympics to show your support. Very fun experience.   Posted: 01/31/2022 12:25:55



Mary Ann Carrasco   Mary Ann Carrasco
Lisa, I am intrigued by street photography and want to do more of it. It is quite the skill in not only photography but with people! This photograph definitely tells a story. I sense the man is very proud and happy to have his photograph taken. My only suggestion is the same as LuAnn's in that it seems a bit too bright.   Posted: 01/11/2022 04:44:16
Lisa Cirincione   Lisa Cirincione
(Group 85)
Thank you so much Mary Ann... I love looking at street photography, and I enjoy trying to make those kinds of photos... It takes a lot of patience, I usually get frustrated waiting lol. I will definitely try to bring down the brightness.   Posted: 01/31/2022 12:29:20



Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
Lisa, what a great Russian street scene! Nice composition. The inclusion of the background elements add context and enhances the story. You were fortunate to have a cooperative subject! It's always a challenge as to whether to photograph people in foreign countries without first asking permission. (While in Venice, I got a very thorough verbal chastising from a gondolier whose picture I took without asking him permission). Your image has a lot of color in it - so much so that I found it a bit distracting. I'm wondering what you think of my monochrome edit?   Posted: 01/11/2022 07:20:19
Comment Image
LuAnn Thatcher   LuAnn Thatcher
Michael,

Your image is huge 5050 x 3500 pixels. Can you replace it with a smaller one? I can't view it as it is.

Thanks,
LuAnn   Posted: 01/31/2022 12:24:55
Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
YIKES! ...thought I had sized it correctly. Sorry about that!   Posted: 01/31/2022 22:44:34
Lisa Cirincione   Lisa Cirincione
(Group 85)
Great story about your gondolier! My friend and I were in Rome once, and I saw a woman hanging clothes from her window and I took a shot and then hid my camera, and then my friend took a shot and the lady scolded her... I got away without the scolding. My friend got the woman with her hands up in the air yelling at her, the better photo.
I like the B/W edit... it is quite a colorful photo to begin with... that really brings the essence of the photo to the Man in Russia. I didn't even think of that , thank you!   Posted: 01/31/2022 12:37:24