Streets Ahead – Challenge 1 – Showcase
Welcome to the showcase for our first challenge, ‘Crouching’ (photographing street scenes/life from a crouching position).
We hope that this will be the first of many challenges that will be run in the Streets Ahead group. The objective of the challenge is to help us collectively practice and perhaps learn some new techniques. Each challenge will be based either on a shooting technique or perhaps a theme. We would like Streets Ahead to be an interactive group, and for members to try to participate in the challenges.
If you are a woman street photographer, please join our growing community.
• Flickr Group (for weekly showcase submissions)

• Facebook Group (for information sharing/discussions)
"Keeping Time" – by Lee Atwell
Crouching down to take this shot really created an interesting point of view. The angle from standing would not have had the same effect. One’s eye is immediately drawn to the subject’s boot, with the light illuminating the detail of the lacing and the eyelets. I love that Lee caught her boot slightly raised at the heel. We can see that there is an open guitar case in front of her, which tells us that this lady is in fact a musician, and she is moving her foot to the rhythm of the music. The added bonus to the scene is the sleeping dog in the forefront, with his nose poking out, keeping her company. Great capture Lee, and perfect use of the crouching position!
"X or V" by Tuba Koran
Lots of lovely things going on here – lines, patterns, reflections. Taking the shot from a crouching position has given the image a feeling of depth and length, which is also emphasised by the reflections in the wet foreground. I can imagine that this must be what it feels like for a cat looking up at people from the ground. Really nice contrasts between the two ladies in black on the left and the woman in the pale overcoat perfectly positioned within the red pillar. Wonderful processing with the sepia tones and the red columns. Great shot!
"Camden Lock Market" by JQ Gaines
Crouching for this shot was perfect for capturing the two ladies sitting on the step. Although the wall makes up two-thirds of the image, I feel that it is there to create a sense of intimacy, with the lines of the brickwork leading our eyes to focus on the ladies. The wall helps to create a window through which we are able to catch a glimpse of everyday life on the street. Beautifully composed JQ!
"London Olympic: 1 year on" by Frederique Bellec
This is a wonderful example of how taking the shot from a crouching position (in other words, a low angle shot) has given a different perspective to the scene. The olympic velodrome in the background looks like a toy building or something that the children could easily climb all over when in reality we know that it is a massive structure. I like the fact that we are looking at children and not adults – it makes the sense of perspective even more strange. It is interesting to see how the camera angle can have such an impact on the feel of an image. Great capture Frederique!
Showcase
Cara Gallardo Weil
Cara is a Graphic Designer and amateur photographer with a passion for mobile photography. Born in Hong Kong to Filipino parents who moved there in the early 60s to work in publishing, her early life was spent in Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines. She studied graphic design in London and spent more than 20 years here before returning to Hong Kong, where she currently resides. Cara brings to her street photography a wonderful international and cultural perspective.
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6 Comments
Tracy Mitchell Griggs
A creative and inspired gallery – are the challenges posted here or on the Flickr site?
Cara Gallardo Weil
Hi Tracy, the actual challenge topic was posted on the Facebook page (I’ve just added you to it – I didn’t realise that you weren’t a member). The entries are posted in the flickr group with a label ‘challenge one’ etc. As it is something new that we have introduced, we are trying to figure out the best way to announce the challenges and to also post them. At the moment, posting them in the flickr group is not ideal as they can get lost amongst all the other entries. It is something that JQ, Joanne and I will be discussing. The Facebook page is not for posting personal work – more for discussions and posting information related to photography and exhibitions. Hope to see you participating in the next challenge Tracy, which we will announce soon. Thanks for checking out the showcase! xo
Stef LP
Great idea!!!!!
Grace Brignolle
It is a great honor to be featured among this amazing group.
THANK YOU !!!
stef lp
I didnt even know there was a challenge. lol
been out of the loop.
i dont always check facebook…i suppose i should. 🙂
really dig reading the commentaries along with photos
lee atwell
adore the ‘crouching’ images in this showcase – so inspiring! thank you so much for including me, cara – i am very honored! i loved the challenge of being in the streets and looking and seeing from this perspective!