It took me a while to think of something for this week’s Photo Friday theme, Perspective, mostly because it isn’t all that long since I posted a series of shots that would have been ideal (stairwell 1 and stairwell 2). So I didn’t want to post any more ‘perspective’ shots of that type.
A comment on my entry of two days ago, can we go home now?, pointed me in a different direction. Doglord made the point that he normally hates it “when photographers resort to images of their own kids” – and I know what he means. What can seem like a great shot to the parents is often not all that interesting to anyone else.
But it is possible to take great shots of kids (see jinkyart.com for some examples). What I think you need is either to capture them when they’re most themselves (which they often aren’t if they know they’re being photographed), or capture something of the way they see the world. It was the second of these ideas that led to this attempt (which, on reflection, I don't think is all that great).
When these shoes were new our daughter was fascinated with them, and would spend minutes at a time just looking at them. They’re a bit scuffed now, but she still really likes them. So I thought I’d try to show her perspective on these shoes. All that said, this isn’t quite what I was after – I meant to bounce the flash off the ceiling but left a Lumiquest Ultrabounce attached to the flash (which is why there are some rather harsh splashes of light), I wanted her in a slightly different pose (but she got bored after four shots and wouldn’t cooperate; which is fair enough at two and a half), and the background is a bit more distracting than I would have liked.
But, all that said, I think it captures something of what I imagine her perspective to be – the shoes are bright and shiny and they’re often a focal point of her attention. So, not a great photograph, but it’s already Saturday, and I really can’t think of anything else for this theme ;-)
camera capture date aperture shutter speed shooting mode exposure bias metering mode ISO focal length image quality white balance optical filter
Canon G5
3.40pm on 5/3/04
f2.0
1/60
aperture priority
+0.0
evaluative
50
7.2mm
RAW
auto
B+W UV 010
Are you kidding? Everyone can relate to this I think, because when you're a kid and you get new shoes (okay maybe it's a girl thing),. . . this is a GREAT shot! I'd love to see the whole outfit :)
comment by Judith Polakoff at 03:16 PM (GMT) on 6 March, 2004
I have to agree with the two previous comments. This is perfect for the challenge this week, and having once been a little girl that age I can still remember that experience of being fascinated by a new dress or pair of shoes or special "visiting" outfit, so this picture I can really relate to. Adorable! :)
I love, LOVE, this shot! This photograph deserves to be framed and hung on a special wall. Such a wonderful shot, and the shoes give it a magical feel.
comment byJinky at 08:42 PM (GMT) on 6 March, 2004
I love this shot. Her shoes are so adorable! Thx for the mention! =) Seriously you have captured this so well, I just cant get over her beautiful shoes. Actually you wouldnt happen to know where they are from would you hehe? =)
comment byfredrik at 10:07 PM (GMT) on 6 March, 2004
wow! you're certainly up there fighting for a noteworthy with this shot;) great catch!
when i opened your page, i made girly squealy noises.
comment byjames m at 01:14 AM (GMT) on 7 March, 2004
I think you are being a bit hard on yourself, as always an outstanding photo.
comment byKeith at 06:12 AM (GMT) on 7 March, 2004
Beautiful shot, actually I don't think the background is that distracting at all, the contrast between the red shoes and the blue floor is just right.
comment by djn1 at 06:59 AM (GMT) on 7 March, 2004
Thanks everyone. One thing I've noticed recently is that I tend to be dissatisfied with shots that require more than a minimal amount of work in Photoshop. I'm not a purist, i.e. I think that post-processing is a part of the creative process rather than some after-the-event trickery, but I do tend to find that the images that have the most instant appeal, to me at least, are those that require the least effort in Photoshop. Perhaps this is like cooking, when you cook a good meal but don't really enjoy it as much as you would have done had someone else prepared it ;-)
Anyway, on reflection, this one has grown on me. That said, my daughter (who's two and a half) was rather critical when I showed it to her: "Look, it's a picture of your shoes. Do you like it?" ... pause ... "Me want breakfast", "But what about the picture. Do you like it?", "No - it's a bit dark in there!" ... and that was the end of the discussion ;-)
comment by djn1 at 07:01 AM (GMT) on 7 March, 2004
Oh, and in case anyone other than Jinky wants to know about the shoes - they're made by Girl! But as they were a gift we're note sure quite where they were bought.
comment byhenry at 08:40 AM (GMT) on 8 March, 2004
Very nice photograph. I could only imagine the childish joy in the out-of frame face of your daughter. Nice work!
comment bychikuichi at 01:43 PM (GMT) on 8 March, 2004
The blue of a background is very effective!!
comment byTiago at 11:28 AM (GMT) on 10 March, 2004
Again, one of my favorites.
Beautifull photo.
comment bynakamurak at 03:56 PM (GMT) on 13 March, 2004
Thank you for a visit and writing comment.
Your site was seen.
I like this photograph.
comment by gizmo at 10:18 PM (GMT) on 13 March, 2004
Perfect composition and very clever color saturation. One of your best.
comment byEmily at 12:58 AM (GMT) on 1 April, 2004
this is a great shot. love the playfulness in this.
comment byJoachim Rieger at 09:31 AM (GMT) on 27 October, 2004
Wunderschöne, charmante Augenblicke. Farbenfrohe energiegeladene Fotografie. Es bereitet mir sehr viel Freude, Deine Bilder zu betrachten.
meine Hochachtung
und viele Grüße aus Köln
Cologne/ Germany
Joachim Rieger
comment by Jan at 10:39 PM (GMT) on 28 April, 2005
I'm 14 and have been looking at your site weekly for about 6months now. Your photography is amazing and this is one of my favourite photos. Thanks for lots of inspiration!
It took me a while to think of something for this week’s Photo Friday theme, Perspective, mostly because it isn’t all that long since I posted a series of shots that would have been ideal (stairwell 1 and stairwell 2). So I didn’t want to post any more ‘perspective’ shots of that type.
A comment on my entry of two days ago, can we go home now?, pointed me in a different direction. Doglord made the point that he normally hates it “when photographers resort to images of their own kids” – and I know what he means. What can seem like a great shot to the parents is often not all that interesting to anyone else.
But it is possible to take great shots of kids (see jinkyart.com for some examples). What I think you need is either to capture them when they’re most themselves (which they often aren’t if they know they’re being photographed), or capture something of the way they see the world. It was the second of these ideas that led to this attempt (which, on reflection, I don't think is all that great).
When these shoes were new our daughter was fascinated with them, and would spend minutes at a time just looking at them. They’re a bit scuffed now, but she still really likes them. So I thought I’d try to show her perspective on these shoes. All that said, this isn’t quite what I was after – I meant to bounce the flash off the ceiling but left a Lumiquest Ultrabounce attached to the flash (which is why there are some rather harsh splashes of light), I wanted her in a slightly different pose (but she got bored after four shots and wouldn’t cooperate; which is fair enough at two and a half), and the background is a bit more distracting than I would have liked.
But, all that said, I think it captures something of what I imagine her perspective to be – the shoes are bright and shiny and they’re often a focal point of her attention. So, not a great photograph, but it’s already Saturday, and I really can’t think of anything else for this theme ;-)
capture date
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
focal length
image quality
white balance
optical filter
3.40pm on 5/3/04
f2.0
1/60
aperture priority
+0.0
evaluative
50
7.2mm
RAW
auto
B+W UV 010
I must disagree, I think it's a great Photograph, very right for the occasion/assignment 'perspective'.
As a matter of fact I think this one, is one to frame, it portrays such innocence... I love it.
Are you kidding? Everyone can relate to this I think, because when you're a kid and you get new shoes (okay maybe it's a girl thing),. . . this is a GREAT shot! I'd love to see the whole outfit :)
I have to agree with the two previous comments. This is perfect for the challenge this week, and having once been a little girl that age I can still remember that experience of being fascinated by a new dress or pair of shoes or special "visiting" outfit, so this picture I can really relate to. Adorable! :)
I love, LOVE, this shot! This photograph deserves to be framed and hung on a special wall. Such a wonderful shot, and the shoes give it a magical feel.
I love this shot. Her shoes are so adorable! Thx for the mention! =) Seriously you have captured this so well, I just cant get over her beautiful shoes. Actually you wouldnt happen to know where they are from would you hehe? =)
wow! you're certainly up there fighting for a noteworthy with this shot;) great catch!
when i opened your page, i made girly squealy noises.
I think you are being a bit hard on yourself, as always an outstanding photo.
Beautiful shot, actually I don't think the background is that distracting at all, the contrast between the red shoes and the blue floor is just right.
Thanks everyone. One thing I've noticed recently is that I tend to be dissatisfied with shots that require more than a minimal amount of work in Photoshop. I'm not a purist, i.e. I think that post-processing is a part of the creative process rather than some after-the-event trickery, but I do tend to find that the images that have the most instant appeal, to me at least, are those that require the least effort in Photoshop. Perhaps this is like cooking, when you cook a good meal but don't really enjoy it as much as you would have done had someone else prepared it ;-)
Anyway, on reflection, this one has grown on me. That said, my daughter (who's two and a half) was rather critical when I showed it to her: "Look, it's a picture of your shoes. Do you like it?" ... pause ... "Me want breakfast", "But what about the picture. Do you like it?", "No - it's a bit dark in there!" ... and that was the end of the discussion ;-)
Oh, and in case anyone other than Jinky wants to know about the shoes - they're made by Girl! But as they were a gift we're note sure quite where they were bought.
Very nice photograph. I could only imagine the childish joy in the out-of frame face of your daughter. Nice work!
The blue of a background is very effective!!
Again, one of my favorites.
Beautifull photo.
Thank you for a visit and writing comment.
Your site was seen.
I like this photograph.
Perfect composition and very clever color saturation. One of your best.
this is a great shot. love the playfulness in this.
Wunderschöne, charmante Augenblicke. Farbenfrohe energiegeladene Fotografie. Es bereitet mir sehr viel Freude, Deine Bilder zu betrachten.
meine Hochachtung
und viele Grüße aus Köln
Cologne/ Germany
Joachim Rieger
I'm 14 and have been looking at your site weekly for about 6months now. Your photography is amazing and this is one of my favourite photos. Thanks for lots of inspiration!