Act 1 Scene 1, a photo from British Columbia, Western

Photographer's Note

I thought I would take a short break from my Croatia photos, but not to worry as I have dozens more to show.

For now I wanted to post a couple local scenes I captured yesterday while out on a stroll through downtown Vancouver.

I called this one Act 1 Scene 1 because the more I look at it the more it seems like a scene from a TV show or Movie. It looks kind of funny that way, its as if the scene here is completely staged.

Of course it's not. I wanted to capture some downtown Vancouver shots with 2 things in mind...focusing in on architecture and people together in harmony. That's what I did here. The glass skyscrapers of the financial district provided the perfect backdrop to the scene.

In the fg is an open area where workers go for lunch on their breaks - its a perfect place to snap some shots, as long as the people don't get annoyed and I try to be quick as possible.

I was actually photographing the 2 people sitting facing each other, when all of a sudden the woman on the phone walked directly into the scene - it was great timing :) If you look closely at the woman sitting eating, I think she got startled by the woman walking behind her.

Hope you like this, I have another one from the same location for my next post.

ikeharel, danos, Fis2, jean113, PiotrF, pajaran, worldcitizen, COSTANTINO, papagolf21, jemaflor, CLODO, Royaldevon, jhm, ChrisJ, adramad, cornejo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

holmertz (102774) 2018-07-25 11:16

Hello CraIg,
Yea, I like this one, partly because the background only contains walls and windows and reflections, and the sky was carefully avoided. But of course it's what we see on the ground that really appeals to me, because there is something going on, and we can make up a story. It's almost as if I see the seated woman turning her head at the moment I am watching her. She is definitely surprised, or maybe annoyed, by the woman suddenly appearing beside her talking on her phone. It's a low key drama, nothing special of course, but fun to watch.
Now I'm looking forward to Scene 2.
Best wishes,
Gert

danos (110407) 2018-07-25 11:55

Hello Craig,
nice the view of the glass skyscrapers on the backdrop with the people in action during their break.As i see the eat their fast food i think with the chatting woman to enter in the frame,making the scene more attractive.Excellent the light and the colour management of the scene.

Regards,Danos

rbassin (27472) 2018-07-25 11:57

hello Craig
Une bonne scиne prise au pied des buildings.
Bien vu le graphisme et les effets miroir des faзades.
Bonne soirйe
Roland

mesutilgim (0) 2018-07-25 12:01

Hello Craig, Nice and interesting capture from Vancouver, enriched with many interesting and usefull notes. A quite tpical scene of our World ; 5 people in the frame, three of them busy with their handy's :-)
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

Silvio1953 (221729) 2018-07-25 12:08

Ciao Craig, nice scene under fantastic building, excellent clarity, splendid light and wonderful colors very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

bema (26591) 2018-07-25 12:44

Hi Craig,

interesting street capture, itґs always fine to see people in motion and their different emotions..
looking out for the second take..

tfs, have a nice evening, cheers

Bernd

Fis2 (170861) 2018-07-25 12:51

Witaj Craig!
Windows, windows and windows...
Curious scene from daily life.
I like reflections.
Excellent frame, colors and light.
Well done.
Warm regards.
Krzysztof

lousat (139332) 2018-07-25 13:46

Hi Craig. Reading your intentions, you could not really do better than that. Not only did the couple sit down to eat, the woman's face so surprised at the arrival of the other calling and the modern background gave the breakthrough to the composition. Interesting initiative to capture moments of daily life from your city, I wait for the next one. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

jean113 (27893) 2018-07-25 14:07

Hello Craig, a scene from everyday life, or is it an episode from a soap opera?
Great b/g filling the space with lines, lines and more lines and a palette of colours, then the softer shapes of the trees.
It is the seated woman that captures the imagination.
Scene 2 please?
Regards Jean.

PiotrF (54788) 2018-07-25 14:55

Hello CraIg,
Interesting daily life scene with the glass skyscrapers in background.
I like beautiful composition here and nice colors.
Nice presentation.
Regards
Piotr

worldcitizen (16104) 2018-07-25 17:18

Hello Craig,
This reminds me of the area of Manhattan I was walking in today, along Park Avenue. I really like the wall of modern windows, and the bit of daily life playing out in the foreground. Nice vertical crop and presentation, too.

Tue (92470) 2018-07-25 18:49

Hello Craig,
A cool photo of Vancouver, the day after tomorrow it's already been a year since our meet-up! Today, we arrived in Canada again. I really like the combination of the park and the people sitting at these small red tables and the large faзades in the background.
Lars

ikeharel (113427) 2018-07-25 21:23

Nicely spotted and in fine subject-contrast to the modern building hundreds of windows, Craig.
Daily-life par-excellence.
Have a nice new day,
Ike

COSTANTINO (116580) 2018-07-25 22:07

Hello dear Craig and have a nice time
and a happy new day
dynamic photo with dynamic contrast
a great combination of buildings
and people too high for us this
construction with the couple captured
while out on a stroll through
downtown Vancouver I like the
whole scenery and I understand
that you wanted to capture the 2
people sitting facing each other
when all of a sudden the woman
one photo walked directly into the scene
sudden appearance
welldone
regards
Costantino

papagolf21 (152607) 2018-07-25 22:23

Bonjour, cher Craig,
J'ai toujours du mal а m'habituer а ces tours et а la petitesse rйservйe aux habitants pour se mouvoir (l'habitat semble prendre le pas sur la ville).
L'effet monumental est parfaitement mis en image.
Amitiйs.
Philippe

jemaflor (147224) 2018-07-25 23:19

Hi Craig,
Interesting composition with these people at the foot of these high buildings,good vertical format, perfect light capture and sharpness, tfs.

emka (158204) 2018-07-25 23:56

Hello Craig, I would rather see the pictures from Croatia than the skyscrapers again :). But it is a well-composed picture with the nice scene from the street. What are they eating? Something from the paper box? Lovely nothing special as Gert calls this.
Kind regards Malgo

CLODO (45116) 2018-07-26 1:11

Hi Craig

Good to have some subjects in your mind and try to realise them.
As you say, the people look like they are on a stage, the prime actor being the woman with an iphone entering the scene.
I would have cut the skyscrappers just above the trees leaves to focus more on the human field
Now wait for the next act or scene.
At left, the skyscrapper is not vertical :)
Cheers
CLODO

Royaldevon (85932) 2018-07-26 3:31

Hello Craig,

A great idea to link people and settings!
You are right about this, it does look like a setting from a show, perfectly staged!
I'm not so sure about the seated lady's reaction; she maybe listening in on the conversation. Now that would add to the drama!
The lady with the phone is obviously on the move, maybe the conversation is private and she is heading away from the previous table, where the figure in green is seated.
It is all so speculative, a perfect drama created by your photograph!

Have a good day,
Bev :-)

jhm (211736) 2018-07-26 4:35

Hello Craig,

This is nice that we can take a break along the street, here is this not possible.
Nice daily life picture.
Nice architecture with the skyscraper in background, also excellent perspective and depth image.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

serp2000 (47063) 2018-07-27 7:31

Hi, Craig!
How are you? I am glad to see your excellent photos again. Some people don't like the urbanistic photos, but I think good photographer can makes perfect photos everywhere. Fine daily life report with so attractive colors and a lot of interesting details.
Best wishes from hot Ural!
Serghei

ktanska (44804) 2018-07-27 11:26

Hi Craig,
It is kind of surprising that such a big building is a background for this peaceful and uncrowded scene. Well presented daily life moment shot on excellent sidelight.
Kari

ChrisJ (171884) 2018-07-27 14:10

Hello Craig

Excellent sharpness and amazing repetition of shapes & patterns such as the windows. Good reflections and the fg diners add depth and layering to the composition. Tfs!

adramad (73006) 2018-07-28 8:56

Hello Craig.
A magnificent photo, with the atmosphere of any day in the city, people eating something to return to their work, one alone, others as a couple, a girl walking while talking with her cell phone, seems like a paralyzed movie scene, good background with the glass of the big buildings.
A good sharpness and lighting, also the color is very natural.
Well done. I like it.
A happy weekend.
Very best regards.
Luis.

GyurMaster (24840) 2018-07-28 11:45

Hello Craig,

As a big fan of street photography I approve your short brake from the Croatian photos. Nice series, carry on! :)

Best Wishes,
Gy.

cornejo (61504) 2018-07-28 11:47

Hello Craig, very good picture of this interesting scene of everyday life before the giants of glass, very well captured in this interesting image, with good sharpness, light, color and quality. A great job perfectly done, my congratulations, my friend. Thanks for sharing this interesting work.

Good afternoon and happy Sunday.
All the best from the south of Spain.
Angel.

carlo62 (81265) 2018-07-28 14:43

Ciao Craig
hai ragione, sembra proprio una scena tratta da un film, per cui tu sei il perfetto fotografo di scena!!!
Eccellente la scelta del taglio per dare spazio alla maestosa scenografia dei palazzi.
Buona domenica
Carlo

kasianowak (17676) 2018-07-29 3:30

It's nice when your "models" do exactly what they should do to enhance your shots even if you haven't even dreamed about it. Well done on reacting correctly by... pressing the shutter button... :-)