Me and My Shadow

[Regalpix]

Shot this at sunset in our vacation Cabin in Maine. My soon to bve 4 year old daughter Lake.

http://regalpix.smugmug.com/photos/410064599_24dvT-L.jpg

[Dermit]

i like the concept but it is not working for me here. I do not like the girl out of foucs.... looks like motion blur. I also think that if we could see the hand both in the shadow and of the girl it would have been much more powerful. Right now you can tell that both shadow and girl are looking at a point that is hidden from our view and is probably focused on her fingertips or an object she is holding. By hidding it from us, the viewers of the image, it fails to work. Include that element and you might have something powerful.

[Regalpix]

Okay,

Well my daughter was touching the wall, her hand to it and her eye on her hand, so there is your element. The focus, was purposefully meant to be on her shadow, thus leaving her a bit blurry in her movement. She is a young autistic girl, so keeping her motion to a slow would ruin the quick moment that I had to shoot this shot. There is no posing, or slowing down a child that cannot stay still for a second.

Sometimes we freeze moments and don't fix them to our specifications or desires and know that what we shoot is simply the way it is supposed to be.

[Dermit]

I apologize, in looking back i just realized you did not ask for any cc and I mistakenly did so. I was just in the mode of doing so since so many other image posters here were asking for it.

I understand what you are saying about capturing an image 'in the moment' and I agree it is better to have something rather than nothing. But it does not change my opinion about it and what could have been better.

I shoot a lot of theater so I know all about unpredicatble motion of subjects and lousey/changing light. But if i don't nail a shot my clients don't buy the image. A lot of getting better is about being able to dial things in fast when a fleeting moment happens in order to better capture the moment. i am not saying I can do it everytime, but I work on improving it constantly.

I do not mean to offend, just to exchange ideas and educate... as well as learn.

[Dermit]

...by the way, I've looked at your images on your web site. You do good work.

[Regalpix]

Dermit,

My apologies for my rude reaction. Generally I take C&C very well, and for sure it has helped me become a better photographer.

I've been down a very hard path with my daughter and her many health issues.

So what seems innocent and beautiful in my eye may not actually be the art of the photo. So i do understand where you are coming from, and appreciate your insight.

AM

[Dermit]

No worries. I admire parents who have to deal with kids with special needs and can appreciate where you are coming from. I have a daughter who has a reading disability who is in high school now. And I know her disability is nothing compared to what a lot of other kids and parents deal with.

On a serious note that image... I only comment when I think I have something of value to add. The possibility of that image is what made me respond. If only... I like that the shadow is in focus and it would be fine if your daughter was out of focus due to DOF instead of movement... just stick with me. Imagine this. Shadow in focus, girl either in focus or slight lens blur, shadow of hand and finger included as well as hand and finger of girl, a crop to tighten it all up and the main focal point being where her finger is touching the finger tip of the shadow where they meet on the wall.

To me that would be a powerful image, this is why I mention it. When I look at what you have here my eye goes to the shadow, in focus, high contrast. Then my eye sees the shadow 'looking' toward something so I naturally look to see what... and my vision is blocked. But get that element visible and BAM! you got something.