An emotive picture

smooth

smooth

Threebrows
Messages
5,553
Name
Matt
Edit My Images
Yes
Today I was at a shoot for a charity I am a Trustee of and something very cool happened that only occurs once in a blue moon.

The entire shoot was candid and I was sent to capture the atmosphere at one of our Special Needs playschemes. I was merely shooting away as I have done a few times before when I caught one of the kids giggling in shot. When I say giggling I mean uncontrollable laughing to the point where they were turning red - and the cause of such hysterics? Dropping dinosaurs onto the top of a dolls house and watching them fall in.

tWas at this point two things happened - firstly my finger became permanently glued down to the shutter release, and secondly the laughter got infectious - I was laughing with them and nearly as much too. I really hoped at that point I had nailed the shot with at least one of the 25+ exposures I took.

Luckily one was spot on. Showed that one shot to 5 people so far and without exception it has made them giggle.

Now this for me is where the magic of photography is - the ability to capture a single moment of time but also convey to the viewer the emotion in shot and evoke an elicit response from people similar to that emotion in shot.

Flipping awesome this photography game is... Pure and Simple.

Would love to hear of your most recent moment and would love to see your shot if possible.
 
:) sorry matey - can't post it up - hence thread being in 'Talk Photography'.
 
It's a shame it can't be posted.

This is not aimed at you, and I don't know the particular reasons why you can't publish the picture in your case, just a general observation, but I believe there is far too much censorship of images of children in this country. Especially children who are disabled or have special needs - by making it difficult to publish photos like that, we make such children appear 'different', and in effect hide them away. The same applies to disabled adults, and the elderly in care homes etc. Because there is so much red tape surrounding consents for the taking and publication of such pictures, it means their story rarely gets told. And when it is told, it's nearly always a sanitised view - what the PR people allow to be photographed and published.

Just my point of view. I would like to see your picture.
 
Crofts said:
It's a shame it can't be posted.

This is not aimed at you, and I don't know the particular reasons why you can't publish the picture in your case, just a general observation, but I believe there is far too much censorship of images of children in this country. Especially children who are disabled or have special needs - by making it difficult to publish photos like that, we make such children appear 'different', and in effect hide them away. The same applies to disabled adults, and the elderly in care homes etc. Because there is so much red tape surrounding consents for the taking and publication of such pictures, it means their story rarely gets told. And when it is told, it's nearly always a sanitised view - what the PR people allow to be photographed and published.

Just my point of view. I would like to see your picture.
Click to expand...

Perhaps look at it from a parents point of view, having a child with special needs it's difficult enough in itself, each day is a challenge. Often there are feelings of stigma attached to being such a parent, with consequential issues of failure, isolation. Not that I'm suggesting the parents are failures or marginalised, it's often what they feel. Now put an additional stress on them by publishing an image of their child with special needs on an open forum, it could be a bridge too far for them?

I'm not dissing your argument, because I think in some instances the law, common practise and consent is in a mess, and does need clearing up, but in this case, I think I would be on the side of not publishing, as perhaps the parents don't want the wide world to know their child has special needs?
 
spotting_Santa_800.jpg


I didn't know at the time, but the little girl had just spotted an elderly gentleman who is a dead ringer for Santa. She's the youngest of four and I doubt she'd ever seen an A4 print of any of her family so I hope having the photo made her feel special and locks in memories of that occasion for her.
 
Crofts, Les, I meant this thread to be about any emotive shot - not limited to one subject - for example I know a lot of people have very fond memories of steam trains and a well executed shot reminds them of yesteryear.

It is your stories of shots where the emotion leaps out of the shot and grabs you that I was after more than the shots themselves. Sorry if I didn't make this clear enough!

Photon - fantastic shot - contains genuine emotion. I would rather take hundreds of candid shots than have lots of posed 'historical document' type shots. Tis probably why I wouldn't like being a full time tog being sent to take fortherecord shots of people lined up in rows all being asked to say cheese! To me that is not what photography is about. For me it is about capturing those genuine moments of emotion.

Let's hear those stories people! And just to reiterate - this thread is about the story behind the shot so you don't necessarily have to post the actual shot itself. :)
 
That's a problem with the internet - it's very difficult to dictate the course of a thread.
 
Indeedy! Can try to keep it on topic as much as poss though :)
 
Les McLean said:
Perhaps look at it from a parents point of view, having a child with special needs it's difficult enough in itself, each day is a challenge. Often there are feelings of stigma attached to being such a parent, with consequential issues of failure, isolation. Not that I'm suggesting the parents are failures or marginalised, it's often what they feel. Now put an additional stress on them by publishing an image of their child with special needs on an open forum, it could be a bridge too far for them?

I'm not dissing your argument, because I think in some instances the law, common practise and consent is in a mess, and does need clearing up, but in this case, I think I would be on the side of not publishing, as perhaps the parents don't want the wide world to know their child has special needs?
Click to expand...

From another point of view I AM a parent of a child with special needs - my daughter has Cerebral Palsy and occasionally has to use a wheelchair. When walking down the street you get kids staring (only natural) and more annoying adults either looking at myself or my daughter with a sympathetic smile. To me my daughter is normal this is how life is and she loves having her photo taken like anybody else as this is something that most kids like. She is the happiest person I know and doesn't want to be excluded from anything :) As soon as I can set up a proper shoot with decent lighting she will be my first choice of model as I am so proud to be her dad. This is not a rant so please don't take it that way, also I used the above quote as a reference to compare a parents view :)
Back on thread
 
Ok, I'll own up to having the old heart-strings yanked hard! :D

I shot my first 'professional' wedding back in August 2008 and during the months before the big day, I really got to know the couple and their family really well. They had a civil service in a local hotel and I had permission to shoot where and when I wanted with no restrictions... a rarity in it's own right.

Near the end of the ceremony, Gareth leant over and kissed his new bride on the cheek... The shot was snatched but became my favourite from the day. The absolute look of contentment on Stacey's face was the crowning glory for me. It's probably not the best shot I've ever taken but it struck a chord with me and believe it or not, I found myself with a couple of tears running down my face. ;)

2801547750_b4a54d3fe5.jpg


I owe this couple more than they realise... They gave me the confidence to get out there and take up wedding photography.

Cheers,
Si
 
Si - absolutely NAILED the point of this thread. Fantastic shot and fantastic capture of the moment!

This one transcends the picture itself and with your context words sets it on fire. Clearly a very special shot to you and to them!

Thanks Si!!! :thumbs:

female smoothedit (aka TP Kay Rocks) "That is a truly beautiful shot" :love:

Come on TPers let's see them!
 
Although I'd love to see the photograph that started the thread, I don't need to see it to understand your joy at knowing that you totally captured the moment in a single image.

You are absolutely right, it's times like these where the magic comes and that single photograph makes all the time, effort and expense worthwhile.

I can (and do) take hundreds of photographs and if only one of them generates a "wow, that's great!" then I'm one happy bunny and it's that reaction that spurs me on to my next project.

Very well done, you can't beat the feeling of being happy with your work and it being appreciated by others.
 
:lol: especially the expense bit!

Thank you for your kind words Steven. :thumbs:
 
Emotive like this?? This was 4 years ago, celebrating my daughter's 3rd birthday. Wasn't into photography at this point...but love the pic!!!

Pictures2321.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top