Robert Knight  

Camden Market by Robert Knight

April 2026 - Camden Market

April 2026 - Robert Knight

Original

About the Image(s)

Camden market in north London is very popular for street photography and I went with a group and an experienced street photographer as a guide. We were looking for ideal spots and came across this flight of stairs and the man looking over the wall at the top. The market was packed with shoppers and photographers (hundreds of people taking shots on mobile phones) and no-one seemed bothered about being in photographs, in fact some of those in more unusual clothes actually invited us to take their photo. That wasn’t really the purpose of the exercise but we did it anyway and emailed them their picture if that is what they wanted. In this picture, I liked the various diagonals and triangles and the man added an extra dimension. I converted it to B&W and adjusted the highlights and then the shadows to bring out more detail in the stairs. Taken at 1/500 sec, f8, ISO 500.

4 comments posted

Cindy Lynch   Cindy Lynch
For me, monochrome was the way to go with this image. I like the perspective of looking up and the lines in this composition. I also like the shadows. I would suggest opening the shadow just a bit more on the stairs.   Posted: 04/04/2026 19:52:03
Comment Image
David Terao   David Terao
I like the hard-monotone, minimalist feeling of this image with strong contrasting blacks and whites. In fact, I might even prefer keeping the overhang in the upper right as dark as in the original as it nicely frames the subject without pulling your eye into the details of the overhang.   Posted: 04/04/2026 20:52:26
Mike Bullington   Mike Bullington
The image has a lot going for it but I think, if you're okay with manipulation, try cloning out the tree. For a strong contrast street image the simplicity will help. I agree with David that darkening the overhang might help, too.   Posted: 04/04/2026 21:14:43
Paul Halphen   Paul Halphen
Very interesting and eye-catching image, Bob. From the comments of those who have weighed in so far, looks like we have two camps...stark and more open. I am in the stark camp. To me, it is about the lines and the man at the top. I'd stay dark with the rest. Yes, we know those are stairs, and an overhang. But, the edited light on the overhang looks wrong to me. And, unless the picture is of the stairwell, I like the dark stairs better. I love that you put light on the man's face. That looks real and natural.
One thing I wish I could see changed is the dark wedge shadow on the top left. I don't like it because the angle doesn't match the other leading lines, and it is SUCH A BIG CONTRAST in a part of the photo that has no other interest. I'd love to see it with the shadow removed (as if that part of the wall was in the sunshine), and leave the horizontal and vertical line underlying the shadow. That would add a little interest in that part of the image, remove the distraction of the contrast. BUT, I am not sure it is possible to raise the exposure in that area enough. Not that it is allowed under the PSA rules, but that seems to be a challenge for AI Remove tool..."Remove the shadow, leave the wall".) Wonder what it would do?   Posted: 04/05/2026 01:55:41

 

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