February 7, 2014

A Personal Photo Challenge - Street Scenes


It’s time for A Personal Photo Challenge! “Street Scenes” is the theme this month.

A Personal Photo Challenge

As an introvert, this was a tough assignment for me. I cringe when I take photographs of people, especially strangers. We also live out in the countryside and don’t venture into the city very often. So I took advantage of an urban setting when we traveled to Charleston this past December. I could play tourist and snap away with some reduction of guilt.

And I did a LOT of snapping of street scenes. Most of my shots didn’t amount to anything. Either they were too blurry, mundane, or overly cluttered for my personal style. But I managed to get a few shots that I thought measured up to the challenge. I’m glad that I was able to push myself to try some street photography. But I know that this is one tough area that won’t be a permanent fixture in my wheelhouse of skills.

Charleston is a magical city, abundant with beautiful architecture and old churches. So I decided to capture one of its most noted landmarks, St. Philip’s. Located in the French Quarter neighborhood of Charleston, this structure dates back to 1861. The congregation is the oldest in South Carolina, established in 1681. I thought that this scenic view down Church Street, complete with a horse-drawn carriage in the distance, needed a sepia-toned black and white treatment to give the image a vintage feel.


St. Philip’s Church on Church Street
f/9.0, 1/800 second, ISO 320

Historic King Street in Charleston is famous for its vast array of shops and restaurants. We found the sidewalks bustling and crowded on the last Friday before Christmas. I was delighted to find a street musician along our trek, and I patiently waited for the stream of pedestrians to thin for a quick photo opportunity.


Charleston street musician
f/11.0, 1/250 second, ISO 400

I was going to venture onward, greet the fellow, and drop some paper money in his violin case. But this momentary look of anger cast my way convinced me that it was safer to cross the street and avoid a confrontation. I got busted! I gave both of these photos some detailed grittiness during the post-processing.


discovered by the Charleston street musician
f/11, 1/200 second, ISO 400

After a long morning of walking, we headed back to our B&B enjoy some refreshing ice tea and sit on the veranda. While we rested our weary bones, we could comfortably do some people watching. There was quite a bit of activity going on across the street at Battery Park. And one of the events was an outdoor wedding! And I had the good fortune of catching this candid of the newlyweds as they crossed the street after the ceremony. Isn’t it a sweet, tender moment? I did a lot of post-processing work on this image to de-emphasize the background and showcase the young couple.


newlyweds in Charleston
f/11, 1/200 second, ISO 400

I hope you remembered to click on each of the photos to see them bigger and study the details. It also would be great fun if you visited A Personal Photo Challenge blog and checked out the creative efforts of other participants!

28 comments:

  1. wow, he really did shoot you a perturbed look! love the sailor and his bride.

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  2. The street musician is very good....what an expression on his face. But of course the newlyweds is the best ever! What a perfect capture of a beautiful moment! Enjoy your day my friend and thanks for the challenge. I'm looking forward to next month! HUGS!

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  3. OH! You have some awesome shots! Love them all,,,,and the bride and groom shot is perfect! There are so many wonderful places to see,,,thanks for taking us along to Charleston today!

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  4. Wonderful photos Donna! The street musician sure had a nasty look on his face. I love the one of the newlywed couple. I love Charleston and would enjoy another visit there some day. Did you see the basket makers in the market? I also took photos of some old graveyards and churches. So much history!

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  5. I'm not reading his look as anger. I think he's confused and wondering what you're doing. His expression while playing is one of contentment, even joy. I like him.

    I don't like the married couple. Ha! I'm just being snotty and judgmental today. It's her shoes. Any woman who would wear shoes like that is...

    So I think that I have just learned more about street photography. It should provide the viewer with some sort of feeling one way or the other.

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  6. These are such great examples of Street Scenes Donna!
    The bridal couple is beautiful, somehow you've captured a tenderness between them.
    I would love to know how you darkened and blocked out the background - is that a Photoshop program or are there "free image processing" programs available that will do this?

    Your photos always inspire me Donna - thank you!
    Hugs
    xox

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  7. I'm glad I wasn't the only one who found this challenge really out of my comfort zone. In fact, I pretty much bailed. The two photos of the street musician could really tell a story. Such a contrast in emotion.
    Love the church scene. That's more my kind of photography.

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  8. LOVE, love the church! Such a beautiful photo. Of course, as someone else said, those pics of the man tell a story and I also think he looked confused in the second one, but like you I'd have crossed the street. :)

    Love also the couple; I don't know why exactly but this reminded me of my mom and dad. He was a sailor when they got married, and my mom could have very well carried off wearing those heels. :)

    xoxo

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  9. Don't you love interpretations of our photos? I thought the musician was angry at first too but after reading Vee's comment I went back and studied his face. I think he is indeed bewildered as to why you would photograph him and that makes it OK. The newlyweds are charming, my dad was navy and it made me think of back when he was courting my mother.

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  10. These are great photos! I'm glad that street musician didn't take after you! The photo of the newlyweds is my favorite - but they all captured my imagination and made me wish I could take a trip to Charleston sometime soon.
    ~Adrienne~

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  11. This type of photography may be out of your comfort zone, but ~wow~ you have some wonderful photos here! I love the sweet scene of the groom leading his bride across the street. The street musician intrigues me. After scanning the comments, I am not sure what to read in his expression. Regardless, he seems to be uncomfortable being the subject. And I think I'd have done what you did and skedaddle!

    My rural setting and lack of adventure of late has challenged me in this challenge. If I join the party, I will have to dig up some older pictures, and I'm not sure if that meets the challenge part.

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  12. Donna, the first shot, despite the newer cars looks like a vintage photo. I just love it!!
    I'll bet you could have turned the scowl to a smile with a donation.
    The wedding photo is super sweet. You did a nice job on that.

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  13. Loving your photos Donna, as always.
    It certainly is an interesting city.
    Love the church, also the couple
    Amazing!

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  14. as always, these are excellent shots. That first one is absolutely beautiful. The street musician does look a bit cranky. I hope his music was sweeter than his expression :) I think I would have broken my neck wearing heels like that bride has on

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  15. I especially like the first shot of the street musician. It's great! I think your in second shot of him he looks surprised, which is puzzling to me since if he's playing his violin out in public he must know photographers are going to want to take photos. :))

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  16. Wow, I love that first shot! Amazing. My fear is always in being "found out" too!!! :/

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  17. Enjoy doing this challenge but never know how I shot it. I am working on improving that. Your photos are so well done and I so appreciate all the narrative of how you got them. Thanks Donna a great learning place.

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  18. I so enjoyed your wonderful photos. Love the way you have worked with them and the effects. I do think the musician looks perturbed or something. But he is so colorful in his expressions and the way you have captured him. I know exactly where you were for the last one and it is a wonderful capture!

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  19. Your work wonders with a camera, Donna! All these photos are so worthy of praise, but my favorite is the first one. It evokes such a nostalgic feeling for me, even though I've never been to Charleston. Thanks for inspiring me yet again!

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  20. I love all these Donna - Charleston's a great place to take photos isn't it!
    I'm glad that guy was seated and making music - he might be just a bit too scary to run into if up on his feet!
    The bride and her sailor are so adorable - even though we can't see their faces we can imagine to the look of joy they are showing…………unless of course her feet are killing her in those heels!!!!

    Hugs - Mary

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  21. Your photos are always wonderful! I love the first scene the best. I'm sad I missed this challenge, as I love street scenes, although mine are usually country back roads.

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  22. Your photos are always wonderful! I love the first scene the best. I'm sad I missed this challenge, as I love street scenes, although mine are usually country back roads.

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  23. These are really good. The first is my favorite. Funny, I have some street musicians from here in Nashville not to happy about my taking their picture too.

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  24. Wonderful photos Donna! I do not know much about street photography. Your photos inspire me! Musician looks great! Thanks for allowing me to take part in this challange. (My English is not very good, sorry).Greetings from Romania!

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  25. These are ALL fabulous Donna! WOW! What a look the musician gave you!Hahaaa....and the couple....how wonderful! Too bad they'll never know this beautiful shot of them was taken....
    I think this IS your forte! At least, One of them!
    hughugs

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  26. Yes, you got busted! I'm surprised that a street performer would object to having his picture taken. I'm intrigued to hear you say that you added grittiness in the post-processing. How does that work?

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  27. Great pictures! Boy that guy sure did look mad! Love the wedding couple, too!

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  28. St. Philip Church photo put me in mind of one of those old archival photo you see in history books and thee newlyweds is precious. Can't choose my favorite because they all are wonderful.

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