Streettogs Academy No. 9 Results and Analysis

SA THEME

And so the cycle continues for Streettogs Academy! Our assignment this time round is deceptively simple. This assignment would actually go down as the assignment with the most interaction (so far). Many comments were shared and there were a number of photos that got the attention of many members of the group. If you look closely, the photos that got selected and got the most interest are the ones that had the simple basic requirement of a good image: A strong visual hook. So let’s see all of them.

Helio Tomita
Photo by Helio Tomita

Let’s start first with one of the best black and white photographers in Streettogs Academy. Helio has been churning out good submissions ever since and this one is one of my favorites from him. The hook of course is the faceless foreground character which is accented by everyone in the photo being faceless as well.

Photo by Monika Jaskowska Bablok
Photo by Monika Jaskowska Bablok

The first thing that catches my eye with Monika’s photo is the couple lying down on the floor. Juxtaposed with the nuns, its a clash of conservatives and free spirits. Excellent tory in the photo.

Photo by Jimmy Yang
Photo by Jimmy Yang

The visual hook in Jimmy’s photo is repetition of the hands on the rail. One of the things about black and white is it doesn’t distract and keep everything simple. A black element placed on white or vice versa can easily make things stand out. Note that repetition in Jimmy’s photo.

Enamul Kabir Rony
Photo by Enamul Kabir Rony

Speaking of repetitions, check out this background by Enamul. This would be too much of a color clash if the photo is in color. Either way, the photo works well because of that background.

Photo by Brenden Burkinshaw
Photo by Brenden Burkinshaw

But wait! There’s more! Here’s another example of repetition by Brenden. The triangles and the X mark is a nice look but the visual hook here is the repetition was broken by the figure. Interesting image of something we see or encounter in the everyday. The previous sentence pretty much sums up what street photography is.

Brad Baranowski
Photo by Brad Baranowski

Brad calls this photo Surrounded. This is an excellent example of isolation both literally and figuratively. When you have a clean background, it’s easy to pop out your visual hook.

Kevin Weinstein
Photo by Kevin Weinstein

Silhouettes is an easy way of making a visual hook. The gesture of the “ballerina” suspended in air looks really nice. Plus all the heads floating about. The trees n the sides completes the framing of the image. Excellent work by Kevin.

Miachel Wolin
Photo by Michael Wolin

Michael’s photo here looks like a still from a movie. Every element is beautifully distanced from each other making each a visual hook in on themselves. The 1:1 aspect ration is to be appreciated as well. It works well here.

Photo by Carlos Agrazal
Photo by Carlos Agrazal

Carlos photo here makes me smile. The shape of the architecture, the windows, and the shadow of the rook looks like an over enthusiastic kid. The visual hook is the man walking across. Jolly looking image.

Photo by Shaie Williams
Photo by Shaie Williams

Speaking of things that can make you smile, if this puppy photo by Shaie doesn’t make you grin at least, you are heartless! Kidding aside, notice the texture of the wall, the wood frame, and the foliage. Overall, works as a black and white image.

Tom Jouk
Photo by Tom Jouk

Tom’s photo got the most feedback and likes for this assignment. The fog, the depth of field, and the characters in the frame is a perfect blend that worked with each other. The solitary figure on the right balances the frame from the very busy moments on the left side. This is something that will look well printed large.

 

 

Helena Zanting
Photo by Helena Zanting

Architecture is very interesting in black and white. However, to turn it into a street photograph, you need to have the candid moment. The biker in Helena’s photo is precisely that.

Photo by Harry Fodor
Photo by Harry Fodor

The downside of putting signage or words in a photo is that it can sometimes detract attention away from your subject. Unless there is a correlation or juxtaposition to the main subject. As usual there are no hard and fast rules in photography that’s why despite the signage, this photo by Harry still works. The signage didn’t detract attention away from the lone figure walking across the sign.

Photo by Chilun Leung
Photo by Chilun Leung

Chilun’s photo looks like it was lifted straight off a horror movie starring a kid lost in a carnival. Black and white works well to create the atmosphere and the composition shows a lot of depth. The image looks very clean as well as if everything was set-up and deliberately placed there. Kudos to Chilun for this one.

Photo by Nic Wassell
Photo by Nic Wassell

Everything falls together well for this image by Nic. I like how the eye would glide towards the woman, the tree, and then her environment. Good call on him to keep the shadow detail.

Photo by Tanya Rempel Barnett
Photo by Tanya Rempel Barnett

I’m assuming this is some sort of zipline but then again, black and white can make an image surreal. Tanya did so in this image. I don’t know what it is but as usual, putting black figures on a white background makes everything pop. The structure and lines also made everything rigid which works for this image.

Photo by OC Ram Coballes
Photo by OC Ram Coballes

Using black and white to elevate your visual hook is the name of this assignment’s game and OC got that one here. The man in the hole plus his perplexed expression seems as though it was detached from reality or added in a badly photoshopped manner. A nice and somewhat funny image.

Photo by Gian James Maagad
Photo by Gian James Maagad

Every assignment, I have that one image that if it was explained further, it will just ruin it. For this assignment, this photo by Gian is that one. So many things happening such as the gestures, shapes, and emotions. Good job!

Editor’s choice

Photography has always had black and white. In its history, the use and the make of the strength of black and white has been done by so many but despite that, photographers still choose the use of this method for various reasons. For this assignment, what separated our editor’s choice from the other great selections on the pool is that the photographer’s use of BW was not something usually done and seen. Due to the use of multiple street photography “techniques” and for having a very arresting story in the image, our editor’s choice:

Chilun Leung

Here’s one more look at his image:

Photo by Chilun Leung

Congratulations Chilun! Email me at contact@agdemesaphoto.com and let’s talk shop about what we are going to give the group as a next assignment!

Here are the honorable mentions:

Tom Jouk

Gian James Maagad

Helio Tomita

Michael Wolin

Brad Baranowski

Closing Thoughts

I hope everyone had fun and felt challenged with the extra stipulations we added for this assignment alone. Thanks again to Harry Fodor for assigning black and white. We’ll see what the next assignment will bring!

If you want to see the rest of the entries or join in the assignments, just go to the Streettogs Academy Facebook Group! (or read my introduction here)

Cheers!