Street Photography. Behind the Photo No5. Warped Reflection

Warped Reflection: Bishopsgate, Central London

Part 5 of Behind the Photo....... that is proving popular. Basically  analysing, going behind the scenes and ripping apart my own photos to see how they scrub up under the microscope Does it tick all the boxes or nothing ticked at all. 

Does it grab your attention and then keep it or is it just another also ran and just a carry on scrolling sort of photo. This photo was taken in a tunnel in 2024 on 20 March in London in the City. Took a number of shots to get this one, but for me it sums up urban life and the man made environment that we live in. 

It looks AI or a PhotoShop job but I can assure you it is straight out of camera! No AI on this website AT ALL! 

 Basics How was it taken? Pretty much at eye level focusing on the reflective surface   

Camera Used: Nikon S9100 

  Focal Length: About 80mm FF equiv. Portrait lens focal length. 

  Weather Conditions: Bright but did not have much effect on the final result. 

  Positives: 

  Composition: Rule of thirds on the horizontal but not really on the vertical. Unusual? 

  Negative space? Bottom third of the photo is demonstrating negative space. Again unusual use of it? 

  Rule of odds? Possibly 9 silhouettes otherwise no rule of odds at play here 

  Layering: Vertical layering split into 3 zones and layering going back into the frame to give it a 3D appearance. 

  Undisturbed scene: I think people noticed me taking the photo but didn't seem that bothered. 

  Painterly? It has a slight painterly effect but not pronounced. 

  Story: As with all my photos....... story is not the prominent feature of this photo. An urban scene with psychedelic lighting. Abstract is more the theme here! If you want a story..go watch a video! 

  Context: Strong urban city theme but this is another photo that could have been taken in any city around the world. 

  Technicals: Sharp. This one would keep the sharp purists happy. 

  Lighting and Tonality: Dense blacks dominate the frame, some blown out highlights and plenty of tonality as in shades of grey in between. Extreme lighting adds to the drama. 

  

Mood: Trade Mark FJ moody shot with plenty of dramatic lighting 

 Subject? Totally open..... is it the silhouettes, the reflection, the tunnel??? Personally I have no idea...it is open to the viewers interpretation? 

  Saul Leiter? Elements of Saul Leiter use of reflections here but would he take this photo. Don't think it is his style but Saul Leiter techniques have been employed here. 

  Negatives: Story? could be stronger but as said earlier this is more focused on Abstract. Is it Street? No expressions, no moment? 

  Summary Another photo that I personally don't rate as one of my Top Tens but it certainly is a stunner in visual terms and it's a photo you can spend some time looking at trying to figure out how this photo was taken. 

Another photo that would look good blown up in a gallery with its strong Fine Art Street credentials and leanings. MY RATING: If a master photo is a 9 or 10..... I personally rate this as an 7.0/10 maybe scraping 7.5/10. Not as good as Behind the Photo No3 which was an 8.5/10 but still good. It's visually stunning but beyond that it just needs a certain something to elevate it to that next level. Others may disagree? Leave your comments below. Utter garbage, just another mediocre also ran street photo like 90% of them out there…….. or wow this is really something else?