I agree with you.

I like the fact that there are only really two colours in this - greyish green and faded pink. I also really like the fact that the heads lean opposite ways from each other. In fact, I just really like this full-stop.

As for 'art' photos, I'm actually starting to scare myself a bit with how much I like some of them. Not on the web, though. A lot of arty stuff doesn't work anywhere near as well on screens as it does when hanging on a wall. But yes, a lot of them are technically poor photos in many respects. I will say that most of them have decent focus though, and shooting film (as a lot of artistic photographers do) gives a lot more freedom with exposure afterwards so it's rare to see an arty photo that has truly poor exposure, in my experience (unless it's deliberate). Also, purple fringing and stuff like that just seems non-existant with film.

Managed to shoot a few frames I liked with the Holga the other day. Might scan them and see how they look in Photoshop.

I like it; the color and life sucked right out of her. Pretty straightforward.

I like how both the expressions of the girl and the doll seem so empty. And great job with the postprocessing, as always.

I think this image has more pretension in the direction of high art than you allow. The child represents the innocence of all youth and the Barbie the ideal characterization of 21st century woman and consumerism..... The received image of western aspiration ......... the unseen but implied TV pumps the images of the desired life and the compliant viewer sadly conforms..... the uniformity and paleness of the color wash imply the lack of true meaning and depth in 21st century European culture...... er........ its one for MOMA.!!!! ...... er........ maybe you should let her watch Cartoon Network........ those worthy BBC2 Melvin Bragg Art programs always used to have that effect on me too.

Cheers Jez XXX

This image is a lot better than you're giving yourself credit for. The expression it shows is great. Art is always in the eye of the beholder, but it's not whether we like it that's important, but whether you like it.

On that note though, I really do like this photo.

Nice shot, love the expressions and the doll. Interesting colours

I'd say it's a great photo. Becaurse it scared me. It could have been taken right out of an horror movie. Or perhaps it's just my dreams that's still playing games with me.

Awwww, it made me sad for a moment, then I just realized her daddy wanted her photo. Its a very odd portrait in a way, with the colors and her expression with the doll especially. She looks kind of moppy or zoned out. Really odd, not nessessarly creepy.

that barbie is freaky =\

Who in the world can resist a good photograph of 'TV face?' Libby has it as do all of us when we watch the tube. Glad to see the expression is universal to the UK as well as the US. Funny though, Barbie has the same expression over here as she does over there. Curious!

As far as 'crap' Dave, I went to a Richard Avedon's Eye of the Beholder exhibit this past weekend and with all due respect, I just didn't 'get' some of his images. I won't call them 'crap,' but so many featured images of cigarette butts seemed odd. Granted the tones were magnificent, but the subject matter puzzled me. Oh well, what do I know anyway!

ps, Libby will like the image when she has her own kids! Nicely done.

Agree with Doreen, Barbie looks like she comes alive at night and does evil things!

Well... I think this is nice. Great expression in the face of your daughter. And lovely with her Barbie.

I do like to see portraits of children where they're being 'real' and not perfectly posed little angels (not implying that your children aren't perfect little angels, of course!). I took some portraits of my daughter yesterday, and the three that both she and I like best are the ones I took when she was messing about pretending to be a kung fu fighter - they seem to capture her character better than the more posed shots, and they're more intriguing images.

As for art - well, different people see things different ways. I don't 'get' a lot of what I see, but then I know that not everyone 'gets' some of my favourite photos. And I agree with Jamey - what doesn't look good on the screen might look fantastic properly framed and hung in just the right place.

barbie dolls are evil! and i think they're bad for the kids too :) setting that unreal beauty standard and blah-blah-blah.. this idea seems to be so popular these days

I can't see how any photographs of your children can be bad..they are gorgeous human beings, having both good days, bad days and indifferent days...she looks lost in thought, but is a wonderful model, whether posed or not. Your children are truly blessed with various photographs of their childhood to cherish, taken by a father who is a truly gifted photographer.

HHHMMMMMmmmmmmm
Undecided!

I think it's adorable. Especially with the barbie.

Thanks everyone.

Yep, kids get stoned in front of TV on occasion, think of it as active sleep.

Yes, I thought "early, early, early Cindy Sherman" when I saw this.

A couple of Barbies!