One. Saigon street photo

To start, I like this photo in Saigon because of the composition and mood.

1. Construction of frame

Composition: a frame, deconstructed, in a vertical rectangle on far left, then divided into two sub rectangles:

Note the frame divided into 1, 2, 3

2. Emotion

The man on bottom left, hunched over. With the leaves and tree flowing. Directionality of the frame moving from left to right:

General movement of subjects from left to right.

3. Working the scene

Saigon, 2017

I made 20-30 photos of the scene on Ricoh GR II, RAW, processed with ERIC KIM MONOCHROME 1600 preset, ISO 1600, center autofocus, Program Mode.

I was in a coffee shop, and saw this scene from inside. I shot out of a window.

Lesson: Coffee shop street photography is my new thing.

4. Final image

Tracing my own photo.

Look at the final image below. I didn’t straighten the frame. I prefer tilted frames. Less perfect, and more dynamic. I like it.

Saigon, 2017

5. Lesson: Divide your frame

Note the frame divided into 1, 2, 3

Use this template, or keep it in your mind when shooting steeet photography. Shoot landscape, and keep it simple.

Two. Cindy Saigon

Saigon, 2017 #cindyproject

1. How I made the photo.

Shot outside a cool hotel, flash on Ricoh GR in P mode.

We were walking around, and I saw the cool hotel backdrop. I asked Cindy to make some photos of her. I used flash to draw her out from the background. The lights of the hotel were cool.

2. Cindy hand gesture is what makes it good.

Basic construction of composition

Deconstructed: this is what I saw, which I liked. The nice arc on top. Cindy’s idea for hand gesture. Her hands make a frame and show off her sensual lips. Very good photo.

3. Lesson: Get low

Breakdown of composition

Lesson for me, shoot low angles.

Also, integrate diagonals into the frame for more dynamism. Use elbows, and arms of your subjects. Ask them to try making a frame with their hands.

This is a photo Cindy shot of me with Ricoh GR, macro mode and flash:

Frame with my hands. Photo by Cindy.

4. Proportions

Note proportions of frame

Don’t over think. Just consider the balance and proportions of the frame.

5. Lesson: Make good compositions and photos with loved ones.

Saigon, 2017 #cindyproject

Takeaway point, don’t always shoot strangers. Photograph friends and loved ones. You have more control how to frame and compose the frame.

Also shoot a lot. I made 15 photos of this scene. This was by far the best.

Three. Deconstruct your own photos

Saigon, 2017 #cindyproject

Have fun. Use the iPad (and Procreate), your phone, whatever to sketch over your photos to analyze your own photos. To better understand your own composition.