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AnnaCecile — Childhood
Published: 2010-03-04 21:02:50 +0000 UTC; Views: 421; Favourites: 16; Downloads: 0
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Owls Head, Maine.Related content
Comments: 26
Beautiful and emotive photo Anna! We love so much our children and our grandchildren, and we worry many of the fact that their destiny can be.
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Interesting title.
A child standing in front of a path.
I don't know if it was meant to be but feels pretty metaphorical .
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The metaphor was intentional. I'm glad that you like it!
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I love this one for pretty much the same reasons as QuikDrah elaborated on. Meaning I don't have too much to add that is of any meaning. Me, I'm very happy with the way you cropped it, and I'm happy too with the way the road ahead of this girl (is it you yourself?) is blurred; emphasizing by this the uncertainties that lay ahead of any poor human being aspiring to grow up some day and making sense of it all.
I used Google maps to get an idea where Owls Head is actually located and what it looks like from above. And then I checked the coastline. There must be a million bays! And a trillion inlets! And zillions of birds,and fish, and lobster; and wolves and bears probably too! I had the impression that this must be paradise for a photographer interested in wildlife and nature.
This way, I found Matinicus Island as well. I was always fascinated by islands and island life (the restrictions of an island by way of its waterlocked borders always influence communities living there, therefore the social codes can be quite different from what you would find on the mainland). I'll definitely order a copy from your sisters book about Matinicus. Amazon still lists it as pre-order, so I'll have to wait.
Following your discussion with QuikDrah about the finer points of technological details and true qualities in photography, I would like to add that you really should read the books you've got (since you've already gotten them, it would be a waste not to do so). Once you've finished, keep the techniques stuff up to a certain point, but forget about the rest. Trust yourself, let your feelings and your eyes guide you. Don't adhere to any kind of wisdom or "laws" in photography. This shot here is a case in point. On the surface, it looks rather unobtrusive, but once you called it childhood, it has gained a completely different dimension, because it has led the viewer into your own world of imagination. You know you can write (and very well you do) and create a very individual view on our lives. I'm sure you can do the same when it comes to photography, without having to turn yourself into a "very learned" person. I believe that this is rather an obstacle at times.
Of course, should you aim for being a true blue mega-professional - and therefore commercial - photographer, then you have to know about all the rules, the science, the tricks, the technology and the expectations of future clients. In this case, my advice above is not really a good one, because it would make things harder than absolutely necessary. But if you mean to use photography the same way you use words, then be free, don't accept any limitations or rules.
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Thank you! I actually took this picture of my daughter. She was walking away from me, on a path that we were returning on from viewing a local Lighthouse. I really did like how the road stretched out in front of her, and how it was out of focus. I titled it in order to emphasize that feeling.
This area is very lovely in terms of having quite a few different environments in which to photograph. Most of my work is taken with a twenty mile radius of where I live. In different areas of the state there are even more interesting scenes which I hope to get a chance to capture someday. There are lots of birds, sea creatures, and lobster, but not too many bears and wolves. We do have coyotes and skunk though.
My sister's book should be out by July 1st or so. She definitely touches upon some of the subjects that you mentioned about island life. It is both very constrained and almost liberating in a way. People really do depend on each other, which can be a blessing and a curse.
I've never taken any courses in photography and am learning while I go. I bought the books so that I could have some sort of idea of what techniques to pursue. I definitely am not the sort of person who ends up following strict rules about what is or is not proper, so there is no fear about that. I appreciate your support in telling me to trust my instincts. I hope that my instincts are something which people find interesting and like to see.
I really don't have huge aspirations to become a mega-professional, but I would like to eventually have more income coming in from my creative works. I like the freedom that it gives me. It also makes me feel much more complete as a person.
Thanks for taking the time to write this.
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It was my true pleasure.
This shot really seems to tell of times past, so it comes quite as a surprise that it is fairly recent. Which means you didn't take a picture, you kind of painted a picture. As you do with words.
The area makes me really kind of itchy, because it looks so promising from above. It's only the cold weather I would fear. 
It is to be expected that your sister cannot be completely free when it comes to put Matinicus Island life under close scrutiny. She's living there, so she is walking the thin line between telling the naked truth (which would be rather suicidal, I'm afraid
Good to know that you don't follow rules, so there's really no fear that you might compromise your talents by taking professional advice too seriously. I'm the type of person who believes anything can be learnt by the way of proper books. But I also had to learn that this is often not very true. Much to my disappointment.
That you got the right instincts seems obvious to me. It can be seen in your writings as in your photography. To me, it seems that your mind is very much dependent on mental pictures. They are there before you write a word or release the shutter. Which means that you got a vision; it may be blurry before you've done the work you've set out to do, but it all got hands and feet and heads once you're finished.
I very much hope - and wish - that you can use your talents to create an income from them as well. The freedom it could give you would be in itself rather priceless. And while I never thought about this, I get an idea what you mean by this making you feel more complete as a person.
I'm aware that you're going through very busy times right now, therefore I thank you heaps for your extensive reply.
Take care.
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I'd like to imagine that one day I could paint with my camera in the same manner in which I used to write. I don't think I'm quite at that skill level yet though. I know that photography is supposed to be the art of capturing light, but in some instances I want to be able to thrust my will into the camera and have something appear that is more than what met my eyes. I guess I just want to share my vision with people, as a bottom line.
If you ever do travel, Maine is lovely in the spring and fall. There is much to do around here. In the summer there are numerous festivals. The winter holds lots of snowmobiling and skiing. It does get a bit cold around here, but the coast is fairly temperate compared to the interior of the state. I want to try to go to a few different events after the summer is done with. If I'm smart, I'll remember to bring my camera.
I added the CD that you recommended to my music to watch out for list. I love music recommendations, so thanks!
In my opinion, most everything can be learned from books. Or, if not specifically learned, books can give you the background needed to figure things out on your own.
Thanks for you long comment. I'm appreciating this conversation that we have going on.
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Thank you, and thanks for adding it to your favorites.
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I think this is a really nice image. There's a dynamic range of values, and the layout is interesting and dynamic without disrupting the innocent solace of the content.
More sharpness would've been better in some ways, but the short DoF helps not only put the emphasis on the little girl, which being partially out-of-frame needs the help, but also give the background a dreamlike quality. It's as if I'm looking through her eyes at a world full of make-believe and constant wonder.
The railing is a bit too blown out, but it doesn't really bother me. It has to compete with the bright sky, so it doesn't stand out too much, IMO.
If you cropped off the left, the S-curve of the railing would be lost and would adversely affect the quality of the image. The wonderful flow and leading lines that encourage the viewer's eye to venture back and forth between the bend in the road and the little girl would be greatly diminished.
Speaking of which, I like how there is more contrast on the subject, and even a barely-noticeable aura.
Looks great.
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Thanks! I cropped this in a deliberate attempt to try to put more focus on the girl and to have the road become a path upon which she was traveling. Glad that got across. I got some new books on composition the other day and will be reading them shortly to try to learn some new visual tricks.
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Your crop choice was spot-on.
I haven't taken the time to read any literature on composition. Perhaps I'll have to pick your brain later.
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Anytime! I also just got a bunch of books on portraiture, lighting, and posing. Also Photoshop work flows and a book on the specifics of how to convert to black and white.
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Sounds like some great stuff. I just had an impromptu portrait session with a band that really caught me unprepared. I was shooting the instruments against a greenscreen when all of a sudden the band started showing up. Apparently I was told some time back they wanted to have school-portrait-style headshots for their album art and website. They were going for those geeky, bad yearbook-looking photos, which was a good thing for me, but lighting was a challenge. I never did learn much about syncing slave units to flashes and all that craziness...
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That's awesome though~! You seem to be very lucky with having great photographic opportunities. Are you going to post any of the ones that you shot?
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I'll trade you a couple band shoots for some aerials...
I need to ask the band members if it's okay to post them on my site, as I know one in particular is a bit self-conscious in front of the lens.
And with them all being greenscreen shots, I'll have to come up with a background. Hmm...
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I've been posting away, so am looking forward to seeing your portraits. I actually need any tips that you may have regarding how to shoot a proper one; I need to get an author's portrait done for my sister and have no idea how to go about doing it. I guess I need lights? Reflectors? Etc?
How do you get such wonderful opportunities?
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I'm not sure how much advice I can give. I'm usually making things up as I go.
I would suggest doing some natural light shots. North-facing windows on cloudy days are great for soft-lit portraits. If the lighting is too harsh, use a reflective windshield shade to provide diffused light in the shadows.
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Thanks! Now to find a northern facing window...
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Thanks! I agree, I wish that it had been slightly more sharp. I think I'm going to work on it a bit more once I get a chance. I debated about doing a clean crop on the left but wanted to retain the slight upward curve of the railing and the post. Great eye though, I went back and forth about that decision.
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Very profound in meaning!
I really like how the black and white contrast and the off center positioning with the child creates even more depth.
The focusing could be better, perhaps, and maybe the left could do with a bit of cropping?
Either way, it's a lovely piece.
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