Child

[BlackSmith]

This was inappropriately submitted in the thread What's the idea?, and subsequently pulled. The original topic in that thread was whether a photograph is simply a record of that located in front of the camera or if it has a meaning (explicit or implicit).
With this photograph, I am sufficiently satisfied with my own reasons behind it. But I don't know if any will be communicated. So, I submit this for comment, critique and suggestion. I would also appreciate if you described what connection it makes with you, or why no connection is made.
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© 2009 Sean T. Smith. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. To view a copy of this license, visit here or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA.

Thank you,
Sean Smith

[byork]

Sean,

For me the fact that he is hiding his face in his hands conveys the sense of cheeky innocence of one so young....one without a care in the world, one with it all ahead of him, before the school books, peer pressure or office deadlines. Although I cant see his face I can still see the smile on it in my minds eye. Whether this pose was coerced by you or he just thought....oh no, here comes dad with that big black box thing again, I care not and don't want to know....because that's the feeling I get from it. Had I been able to see his face it probably would have just been another cute baby photo that didn't really interest me. I like the side lighting.....it's a good shot worthy of it's own thread.

Cheers
Brian

[wolfnowl]

Hi Sean:

Without knowing the child it's hard to say what's being expressed.  Is it a game of hide an seek?  Is it shyness, surrounding the photographer or the camera?  Or is the child hiding, a case of 'uh oh' for some transgresssion.  Could be any of these.  The image is well done, though.

Mike.

[RSL]

Sean, I think Brian summed it up very well. In addition, as you requested, here's the connection it makes with me: I have four sons and nine grandsons (also, eight granddaughters, but this kid is a boy). But all my kids and grandkids are pretty much grown up. What this picture does is make me want to pick up the kid, hug him, and get a hug back. I'll be very happy when my great-grands start appearing so I can do that again. My arms ache to hold a little one again.

[button]

Superb use of DOF.  Focusing on the fingertips makes this shot so much more delicate and personal.

John