Gregory Waldron
June 2021 - St. Martin Vendor
About the Image(s)
This image was made April 2018 on the Island of St. Maarten/St Martin. I used a Sony A6000 with a 55-210 F4.5-6.3 at 85mm. This image was taken a few months after the Island had been hit with 2 category 5 hurricanes (Irma and Maria, Sept. 2017). I was on a beach which had stripped of all it's beach bars, when I came upon a green structure with colorful ladies bathing suits and wraps. I asked the vendor if I could photograph his vendor stand. We got into conversation and he proceeded to tell me all about the destruction from the hurricanes. His name was Luis and he was so friendly (thus Island is referred to as the "Friendly Island". So I ask if I could take his picture. He lit up my view finder with his big smile and I had my image. I have returned a few times since 2018, but Luis is no where to be found. Always get your image when you can. Let me know what you think.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
12 comments posted
(Group 46)
A colorful character! You caught the project very well, with a very natural look. The composition is good, but there is another choice: move the person a little right, so that the person is not located in too center, and two mannequins in the background not too balanced on the left and right edges. The focus seems a little soft to me. Posted: 06/02/2021 17:07:15
Xiao,
Thanks for your feedback and comments.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 06/06/2021 13:31:54
Thanks for your feedback and comments.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 06/06/2021 13:31:54
Hi Greg very colourful image with the model definitely giving a jovial feel to this image, the model looking directly at the camera immediately drawing your eye to him makes it a very strong image.
Colour balance works well with no over-saturation. I do agree with Xiao that placing the model a bit right of centre eliminating the mannequin on image right would, in my view, make it a more powerful image, together with filling in the bright white triangle adjacent to the model's head. To me, the mannequin on the image left is not a distraction but adds to the story, without the cropping across the breast.
Overall a bright and cheery image which I like. Posted: 06/04/2021 19:58:37
Colour balance works well with no over-saturation. I do agree with Xiao that placing the model a bit right of centre eliminating the mannequin on image right would, in my view, make it a more powerful image, together with filling in the bright white triangle adjacent to the model's head. To me, the mannequin on the image left is not a distraction but adds to the story, without the cropping across the breast.
Overall a bright and cheery image which I like. Posted: 06/04/2021 19:58:37
Tom,
Thanks for your feedback and comments.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 06/06/2021 13:32:57
Thanks for your feedback and comments.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 06/06/2021 13:32:57
Hi Greg - This guy seems genuine and thoroughly enjoying your attention - you have a knack of capturing that in your portraits. All the colors seem a bit overwhelming to my eye. That said though, they really add to that island life 'feeling'. I don't mind the vendor's placement, but the composition of the partially visible mannequins are a bit distracting so just adding a bit more to the width would have made for a better composition. Hope you enjoyed the trip as much as he enjoyed having you take his picture :) Posted: 06/04/2021 20:02:18
Darcy,
Thanks for your feedback and comments. I think my subject and I both enjoyed the interaction, and yes, I had a good trip.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 06/06/2021 13:35:43
Thanks for your feedback and comments. I think my subject and I both enjoyed the interaction, and yes, I had a good trip.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 06/06/2021 13:35:43
This image immediately made me smile. The colorful fabrics around his neck really add to the happy mood and bring attention to the figure. The background, although very busy,further adds to the mood. My only suggestion is to consider darkening the very light distracting portions of the background, like the light grey part of the mannequin, the light triangle directly to left of the subject, and light stripe on the right-hand border and the over bright ground in the lower right. Overall, I think this is a very effective portrait and definitely conveys a a cheerful and colorful island experience. Posted: 06/07/2021 12:02:28
Ingrid,
Thank you for your feedback and comments.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 06/08/2021 09:15:41
Thank you for your feedback and comments.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 06/08/2021 09:15:41
This made me smile! (How can you not?!) Great capture of this character!
Good points about moving him a bit off-center to add to the interest and lightening the white triangle (or perhaps cloning some other fabric/colors there. A vignette might also work well to help direct the viewer's eye to you subject and downplay the busy-ness of the background.
Fun image! Posted: 06/07/2021 16:18:46
Good points about moving him a bit off-center to add to the interest and lightening the white triangle (or perhaps cloning some other fabric/colors there. A vignette might also work well to help direct the viewer's eye to you subject and downplay the busy-ness of the background.
Fun image! Posted: 06/07/2021 16:18:46
Karen,
Thank you for your feedback and comments.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 06/08/2021 09:16:33
Thank you for your feedback and comments.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 06/08/2021 09:16:33
Hi Greg,
Greetings.
I hope you remain safe from the ongoing pandemic.
I loved the image that you took years ago. Even though the two consecutive hurricane ripped the island off, but surely they could not take their spirit off. This expressed in his incredible smile. The spotlight on his faces and hairs really added to the image. Xiao is right about the placement, but a street photo is a street photo. After we capture, we always have this mind of "Wish I could do better". An well composed image and a great moment to capture. Nice work.
Stay safe my friend.
Cheers.
Kamal. Posted: 06/09/2021 03:38:09
Greetings.
I hope you remain safe from the ongoing pandemic.
I loved the image that you took years ago. Even though the two consecutive hurricane ripped the island off, but surely they could not take their spirit off. This expressed in his incredible smile. The spotlight on his faces and hairs really added to the image. Xiao is right about the placement, but a street photo is a street photo. After we capture, we always have this mind of "Wish I could do better". An well composed image and a great moment to capture. Nice work.
Stay safe my friend.
Cheers.
Kamal. Posted: 06/09/2021 03:38:09
Syed,
Thank you for your feedback and comments.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 06/11/2021 14:27:12
Thank you for your feedback and comments.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 06/11/2021 14:27:12