Cool or not?

[gracie_r]

I got this photo by accident. I was holding up my daughter with one hand and holding out the camera with another, just trying to get a snapshot. I thought it turned out really cool, but my husband was like "I don't get it". I just wish her face was more in focus. I have one with her face in focus, but I don't like it as much. I'd have to crop it to get the same feel, but then it isn't an accidental capture, you know?

What do you guys think? Kinda cool - or doesn't do anything for you?

[Frog]

Doesn't matter if it does anything for me....only if it does something for you which I think it does with the story.
What I'd like to see is a pic of you taking the pic...you must have some strong arms.

[Wild Wassa]

Gracie R, Very cool ... you Minimalist you.

Every now and again take shots that others like, but have in 'that one shot' ... a cat, a sunset and a waterfall. That's the winning photographic subject combination for a great photographic success.

I opened a gallery site which has been running for 31 days now. In that time, I downloaded my winter collection of 67 photographs (so far). The site keeps amazing stats. My photographs have been viewed 1412 times, averaging 22.6 viewings per image. A few artists have collected images from my winter collection, under a Creative Commons Agreement, 221 times in total. Not a bad rate for the first month.

... but the best 3 shots on the site, which I'm delighted with and which took every ounce of skill I (might) have, have only been viewed a total of 17 times ... what?!!! No one has downloaded any of the three super shots, a great photographic success, obviously.

What you like, very few others might. ... I find that happens all the time.

Remember, ... a cat, a waterfall and a sunset combined in that 'one brilliant shot'. Although another winning combination is; a lame shot of a bride running down a dark alley with some pretty boys leaning against walls. The boys all have emo' expressions and while casually leaning avoiding the gaze of the bride, they are looking towards vanishing points somewhere down the alley or near their feet. Their chins are down of course so that their hair falls across one of their eyes, ... all too beautiful for words.

Stay cool Minimalist ... go and strip another subject down to the bare essentials. Very Cool.

Warren.

[splats]

I have to say I am with your Husband , I don't get it .

[gracie_r]

Thanks Frog. She was actually sitting on the ground, I was just holding her upright so she wouldn't fall over. I am not that strong - she is a chubby girl!

Thanks Warren! And thanks for sharing your experience.

Thanks for the honesty splats!

[adina]

Had the focus been her nose and mouth, and had the mouth specifically not been cut off, I'd like it a little better. But the focus on the ruffle of her shirt and the chopping into the mouth makes it seem more "crap I missed this one" than "oh happy accident"

[Asylum Steve]

I am pleased to announce, that in my official capacity as Coolmeister Generale, I can say without a doubt that the shot is indeed: kinda cool.

Not completely cool, just kinda cool.

Now, EVERYBODY GET BACK TO WORK!

[gracie_r]

How about this one adina? This was the other one I mentioned, but I don't like it as much for some reason. This one seems more like an "oops" to me. I actually want to crop this one so it looks like the other one!



Then, you do get more of the drool, which doesn't bother me as her mom, but might turn others off.

[gracie_r]

Coolmeister Generale! Thank you for gracing my post with your presence. And thank you for awarding my photo with the label "kinda cool". That is the most I could have hoped for from your highness. (insert bowing down and kissing feet greamlin here)

[Kathryn002]

I think it's really cool. I've done that before, like when I'm taking photos at the zoo, and the camera focusses on something completely different, but I love the photo anyway.

[adina]

can I play with that second one?

[gracie_r]

Yes adina, please do!

[adina]

bumped up the exposure, converted to black and white, cropped a little tighter, adjusted curves, added grain, burned the shirt a little, adjusted levels....it's still, to me, iffy, but I think with a concept like this, you need to make the focus on her features. Have you ever seen those baby part collages? I think this would work in a series of shots, lips, ears, eyes, toes, that kind of thing.

[gracie_r]

I like it adina. I think I might try doing one of those collages like you mentioned too. Thanks!

[shootme]

I like it (the B&W best of all), well done, it's what I'd call "art", also refer Threads from Forum "Photography As Art"

[another view]

I'm with Adina's first comment and also think the collage is an excellent idea. I remember seeing a portrait photographer offering this for parents, and he was pretty successful with it.

I get shots like this (accidental and possibly cool) once in awhile, and usually I just sit on them for awhile. Maybe print it and look at it once in awhile. Some I still like; some are banished to the far reaches of the hard drive. But this is one reason I shoot - I never really know exactly what'll be on my card at the end of the day.