PHOTO CLINIC
02
Converting the
image to mono
suits both the subject
and the weather
PHOTO CRITIQUE
01
Great composition,
and a natural pose
and expression, create an
engaging street portrait
03
The image lacks
punch. Both the
overall contrast and the
fine detail need a boost
Andy says “I took this shot in Helsinki in November.
Photography in that part of the world late in the
year can be quite challenging, as it starts to get dark
by early afternoon, but one cloudy and miserable
Sunday I decided to try my hand at some street
photography. This accordion-playing busker caught
my attention, because he was so cheerful despite the
poor weather, and because I could see that there was
bags of character in his weather-beaten face. I shot
with my EF 24-70mm f/2.8L lens wide open and at
70mm, both to let in as much light as possible and
also so that I could blur the background. This was
my first serious attempt at converting a picture to
black and white, which I did in Photoshop Elements,
using the Urban Snapshots preset in Convert to Black
and White. I also added a subtle vignette to focus
attention on the subject. I’ve been meaning to start
a portfolio for a while, and I thought this shot would
be a good start. When I got the picture printed I
ordered two copies, as I knew I would be in the same
area again a week later, and you should have seen the
busker’s face when I gave him a copy of the picture to
keep – he really lit up!”
We say “This is a great street portrait Andy, and it
looks all the better for being converted to black and
white, which really brings out the subject’s character
- and it also disguises the fact that the weather was
lousy! The depth of field is perfect, as you’ve kept
enough of the subject’s surroundings sharp to show
the urban environment, while blurring the more
distant detail so it doesn’t compete for our attention.
However, the image lacks a little in terms of punch,
because the tones are relatively flat; there are too
many midtone greys in the scene, and not enough
highlights to create strong contrast. Fortunately, we
can add instant impact to the shot with a few simple
edits in Elements.”
Canon EOS 5D Mk II
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
Aperture f/2.8
Shutter speed 1/640 sec
Helsinki
Busker
BY ANDY HOLLINGSBEE
02
03
01