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spyed β Burning Can
Published: 2009-05-26 12:21:19 +0000 UTC; Views: 12875; Favourites: 219; Downloads: 126
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Description
I learned a lot about photography via this photograph and that is why I'm posting it.You're sitting at a cafe in Warsaw, and across from you a garbage can catches and fire presumably from a cigarette someone ashed out in it.
You pop up with your camera head to the curb to document this event. First error. You have got to be descreet, otherwise people are aware of you and are not acting as naturally, drastically reducing the chance that you get the natural brilliant shot you're aiming for.
After a while of sitting there you begin to conceal because people who saw you move in to position have since left. I got a little lucky because the trash kept burning and people kept walking right on by. Who could have expected apathy aroun this subject.
Even so, I took easily 50 photographs in this series, and I still don't feel I captured the right moment. I looked through the photos 20 times thinking I had nothing, until I noticed this man on the right who captured the bad smell with the expression on his face. But the angle on the second guard sucks and her face was priceless in some of the other shots.
I didn't get the right angle, I didn't get the right moment, even though I took lots of shots.
I should have kept my eyes out of the camera, focusing on predicting the elements around me and awaiting to take five total shots rather than being snap happy and not catching anything meaningful.
But I learned. And I found an opportunity with subject matter interesting enough to learn from. And that feels great.
Shred me! LOL
And `cweeks dude... thanks!
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Comments: 55
This may not be the perfect shot you wanted, but it still captures an interesting scene. A picture can tell a thousand words, this to me tells a story of just how apathetic others can be towards community problems. Many have walked past, and it's obvious by this mans expression acknowledged it, yet no one has the time to stop. It's a shame you can't see the police officers and the man in the flannelette expressions. I imagine the would be either a nice contrast or confirmation of this fact.
I like the balance of tones here, it doesn't look too exposed but it's also not overly dark which gives this an almost a wintery feel. However it could interesting to view this with some colour also. Although this does abide by the rule of three it would be interesting to see this shot with the action placed to one side rather than centered, we might have seen more reactions this way and it makes your eyes move across the piece.
Finally I'd just like to say I can imagine this on my wall and will do when I have sufficient funds, thank you for sharing!
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ok, firstly wow i have never seen anything like this, and this is from a cigarrette...wow.
ok, great composition overall, I like how you kept the camera discreet so people would just keep walking by and not try to pose for the camera. Even though the fire is dying because of the water, it still kept burning and it gave it that somewhat mysterious, eerie glow about it. I like how the trash can is the main focal point of the picture. The man over in the corner is the only one who decided to pay attention to the police trying to put out the fire, his reaction somewhat enhanced the meaning of the picture, that when people saw it they thought it smelled like burning trash. Overall very nice work on this photo, keep it up.
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While you may not have captured the moment that you intended to, you have still captured a slice of life in this photo. It contains real people with natural reactions to the burning trash can, as opposed to people who are reacting to your and the camera's presence, and in that way it is very good.
Your choice to make the photo black and white was a wise one, as color would have just been a distraction. There are also no obvious signs as to where the picture was taken, which takes the scene out of the location, so to speak. The burning trash can could be anywhere, even a block away from the viewer's home.
Lastly, your technique has definitely improved. The picture is clear across the entire frame, and the scene shows depth, making the viewer feel as if he or she is looking at this scene through a window rather than a computer screen. All in all, not bad.
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Actually the man on the right looks like he is the pyromane and he's very proud of him. Ahahah
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Many wouldn't have thought to take a picture of this, great job
I've featured this photograph in my streetlife journal [link]
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I really like the picture 
And I'm very happy that people from across the ocean come to visit my country too
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haha nice shot
lol it tells a story, thats why i love black and white
Color is a big ass part in photography XD
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I love what you wrote here and also the pic
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Thanks for the advice.
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Very interesting comment, thank you for describing the process.
And I like this photo. Somehow those cops look kinda comical even with their faces not being visible: something in their poses as they seem to curiously stare what this guy is doing.
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Still a great shot 
I love the sense of, shall we say, narrative; some story to be seen in the events that subtly bring these people together.
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haha his face is kinda funny. So that random guy is putting the fire out then?
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f/9's too much for this my brother.
i see that the piece of shit camera you have is still working.
sigh.
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that's an useful tip, thx !
the face of the man in the right, it's cool xD
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Hello, you have been featured here [link]
If you dislike the feature please note back and i'll remove it.
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the more i take photographs of a moment, the less i see the moment
and
digital cameras are bad for street....when you shoot street you shouldnt check your screen, ever
cheers !
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good xD New World Street is not always so interesting.
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the elder looks like the puppet from Walter and Jeff Dunham (great american ventriloquist )
haha
"Its a dry heat !"
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It's easy to get all snap happy^^ No worries
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You know, sometimes there is a cause and effect for things and this is one of those times to sit and reflect why things happen. I know in my city they are trying to bad smoking so passionately that they took away all public ashtrays that used to be outside public places. They want you to stop smoking. So what happens next you ask? That's right, cigarette butts on the ground everywhere and incidents just like this in fire country. I can't speak for Warsaw as I'm not sure if there are ashtrays there or not, but it's not a wildfire zone like here and it just makes sense to have them even though the act is generally frowned upon. And definitely a great shot here! It looks like you and the gang had a great time and took in some culture!
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Really nice one, quite often the trash cans get fired in warsaw city.
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mm i actually like the whole thing
i have a hard time capturing good moments randomly because of the people who notice the camera so they dont act natural as u said
thanks for sharing great job
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Overall, I would have to say this is a pretty solid shot, actually. About the only change I could suggest is maybe try cropping out the guards? I agree with you, the positioning of the two guards does suck, and that kinda distracts me from the expression on the man's face.
Overall, though, I quite like it.
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great that you share such experience
for me as a beginning amateur this is pretty useful
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I like this one, it has great depth! You get to see some nice older buildings in the back and the faded out people with the people nice and sharp in the front. I don't think you did a bad job with this one, the placement of all the elements is very nice and there's a sense of movement. I wish that I took as good of pictures as you do!
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lol, that guyss expression is priceless! this is an interesting shot, thanks for sharing it with us!!!
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oh normal situation on nowy swiat street :3
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ΞΡν Ξ΅ΟΟ Ξ±ΟΟοληθΡι ΟΞΏΟΞΏ ΟΞΏΞ»Ο
ΞΌΞ΅ street photography, αλλα Ξ±ΟΞΏ ΟΞ± Ξ±Ο
ΟΞ± ΟΞΏΟ
διαβαΟΞ± ΞΊΞ±Οαλαβα Ξ±ΟΞΊΞ΅ΟΞ± Ξ³ΞΉΞ± ΟΞΏ ΟΞΉ ΟΟΞ΅ΟΡι Ξ½Ξ± ΟΟΞΏΟΞ΅ΟΟ / βλΡΟΟ.
ΞΟ
ΟΞ±ΟΞΉΟΟΟ ΟΞΏΞ»Ο
ΞΊΞ±ΞΉ καλο Οαξιδι.
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Wow!
you're so professional here!
and don't worry!
I'm sure you'll have many right moments
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hehe! awesome capture
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I think it's very well captured and as you know by now it's common around there that garbage bins burning and almost everybody walks past it without glinching it
Sometimes waiting of the right shot can be the wrong way either so shooting many shots gives you a better opportunity to catch one that's right and perfect
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Glad to see you learned from your experiences ..
Just a side note: in my opinion, the ISO should've been at minimum i.e. 100 or 50 because usually high ISO levels gives you grain/noise which is something should be avoided UNLESS you intend to produce a grainy shot for an artistic touch .. By lowering the ISO you will notice the reduction in brightness/exposure which is easily fixed by lowering the F number since your F number is F9 .. There is a downside to lowering the F number but I won't go into that because i think it's too much info for one day
Keep it up and hope to see more
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It doesn't matter that you didn't capture the right moment ... it matters that you're learning - kudos to you! Keep taking those pictures
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The dude isn't making that face cos of the smell, it's cos he's pants are too high.
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I know....
Wait... deja vu... ?
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