A Moment Alone Photo

Photographer’s Note

I was shooting a wedding in a canyon near my home when, upon finishing, this boy was sitting on the steps. No doubt he'd had enough of the tortured poses and being dressed up. He simply wanted a moment alone. I tried to start a friendly conversation, but it was all for naught. He just wanted to sit with this thoughts and, perhaps, sulk.

I guess I like doing that sometimes, too!

Wandering_Dan, snuggleaphagus, mortijo, robiuk, Jeppe, stego, xuaxo, evanrizo, ChrisJ, syd1946, jhm, feather, singuanti, Didi, JorgeCK, Bien has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Luciano75 (0) 2007-09-16 14:48

Hello David
Reading your note and watching the picture...the moment framed captured me...and yes...you`re right...I do the same thing sometimes.TFS this moment.
Regards,
Lucian

mikolaj_kawa (30201) 2007-09-16 14:57

Hello David! Marvelous take. Very original composition. Best regards!

Wandering_Dan (3229) 2007-09-16 17:17

David -

A very interesting study and a great mood capture. There's a nice play of light where it's positioned with shadows to the left on the stairs, and shadows to the right on the boy's hands. The one thing that bothers me is the line of light down the stairs bisects the picture; I wonder if cropping out most of the wall on the left, so as to shift the center of the photo, would make a difference.

I hope that comment didn't make you sulk! ;-)

snuggleaphagus (4138) 2007-09-16 19:17

The light on this little guy is wonderful. I really like the roughness of the stone in contrast to the seemingly gentle mood of the photo.
Beautiful framing too.

mortijo (12248) 2007-09-17 3:23

A very nice portrait. I like the play of light and shadow here. Good note too.
Greetings, John

robiuk (10763) 2007-09-17 4:32

Hi David,
Lovely moment captured here, beautifully
composed placing a fragile boy between
these cold & rough stones, with his hand
entwined like in prayer and a priceless
face expression.
I appreciate your skillful light management
in this difficult conditions and bringing
out details in shadows that would otherwise
stay invisible.
At first, these steps made me think this one
you shot somewhere on the Mediterranean,
because of the stones, and now I wonder if
this was somewhere around a church, or is the
whole place some ancient site made of stones?
Thanks,
Robi

cdmonson (2753) 2007-09-17 12:13

Hi David:

I certainly know that feeling! I like the mood of the picture. Everything about it feels cold and lonely, even the light on the steps. Nice job.

Clark

Jeppe (18623) 2007-09-17 12:51

Hi David
I can image the rough time that little guy had so far - no wonder he need some time of his own.
A fine job giving us his rest - tfs
Jeppe

stego (22352) 2007-09-17 17:49

Hi David,
The mood is quite touching, he looks rather absorbed in his thoughts. God knows what drama is going on that head. :-)
The rough rock stairs and the intense sun make a beautiful backdrop.
Regards, José.

molla (6883) 2007-09-17 20:11

Hej David!
What a wonderful portait of this young one. especially the the curls in the hair gives a just to get out som more details from the shadowed feet.
Anders

[workshop] [compare]

UnTrained (0) 2007-09-17 22:42

Hi David,
maybe as old as him I was also on a wedding of relatives and less enjoying this adult business in several ways. Your capture is bringing this day back in my mind because of the strong impression. It was not the last day to behave such.
I like the view, as this from above let him his intimacy. Eye-catching shadow and light, very good sharpness and textures.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

xuaxo (5733) 2007-09-17 23:49

Hi David,
I like the shadow and light contrasts. It adds to the mood.
Regards,
F

evanrizo (456) 2007-09-18 5:53

Hi David,
I love it, you are very lucky to be be there and to capture it at this moment and the kid sits at the best place in you frame.
The lightness come wonderful.
Best wishes.
Evan
I will be back

ChrisJ (70271) 2007-09-18 7:39

Hi David

Good sharpness & shadow detail on the boys face. I like the reflective & almost melancholy mood here. Excellent lighting contrasts & downward pov. Tfs!

syd1946 (17913) 2007-09-18 13:25

Hello David,
Wonderful moment,full of childhood and innocence!The play with the light adding more to the senses.Simple but beautiful!

wishes,
Thomas

hay_kes (28562) 2007-09-19 0:00

Hi David,
very great shot. Wonderful portrait.TFS.
Regards.

hAyAti

jhm (82577) 2007-09-19 5:48

Hi David,

You play very nice with light and shadow, the pose of this boy is very nice, depth in thought he think maybe at the future.
Very well done. Thanks for sharing.

Best regards,
John.

Fis2 (45849) 2007-09-19 6:20

Witaj David!
Very interesting composition. I like the light and shadows. Very impressive picture. Good idea.
Regards
Krzysztof

feather (49860) 2007-09-19 7:12

Sulking or not he's definitely feeling left out as he's not the centre of everyone's attention at a wedding ;D. It's quite an adult pose you have captured him in. I love the way you were able to compose the image with him off-centred in the frame. If he had chosen to sit in the centre of the steps your job would have been more difficult.
Kath

giorgimer (21176) 2007-09-19 8:40

Hi David,

perfect atmosphere! POV and light create a great work!

TFS

Gio

marioana (2178) 2007-09-20 0:09

Hello David.
Good to see you're still posting. Must have been a great place to shoot a wedding. I like the natural rawness about this. Good composition. It conveys a real sense of solitude, which is the intended purpose. Very nice, well done.
Best regards, Steve.

baba_flies (7985) 2007-09-20 7:30

A wedding in a canyon? I might have to reconsider my marital status :) This is a wonderful photo how you caught the boy with just a little light on the rough steps and he seems somehow lost or a little angry or maybe bored. But most proably he hates the suit he has to wear keeping him from running around and getting dirty. A wonderful calm study on weddings, away from the brides and grooms ... Barbara.

singuanti (15240) 2007-09-20 19:36

Hi David. I just got back from my trip so I'm catching up on the shots I missed of yours. That’s a professional quality of a result you have here. The light, the pose and the composition can't get any better. Another good one from you David!!

cam (8880) 2007-09-23 18:57

Hi Dave
I seem to recognizes myself at this age, always like to be alone with myself, still does on occasion, must be from working with the public.
Nice corp that really isolates the little boy.
A slice in the life of...

Have a good week
Charles

toto (18709) 2007-09-24 6:04

Belle photo de ce petit garçon seul qui a l' air bien triste de sa cituation, veritable photo qui accroche comme celle de pub d' un film qui doit accrocher les passant, la votre le fait bien.Producteur n' oublier pas cet homme. Amitiés Thomas

Bluejeans (32335) 2007-09-24 11:58

Ola David,
Que belo momento este rapaz sentado a pensar , tá com uma car muito triste e pensativa , bom enquadramento da foto , gostei muito das cores , parabens!!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

jmcl (13839) 2007-10-03 20:19

Hi David,

the way the stone, the stairs, and the beam of light down the stairs communicate mood is tremendous. They amplify him tremendously.

In solitude where we are least alone - Lord Byron

take care,

John

ahmetgedikli (21913) 2007-10-05 15:25

Hi David,
A beautiful composition... Nice light, sharpness and good contrast.
Have a nice weekend.
Ahmet

Didi (36136) 2007-10-07 0:22

Hi David
Nice lonesome boy on a strong point bathed by vertical lights.
Well done for this good management of exposure.
Cheers.

Angshu (33665) 2007-10-07 21:24

Hello David
This is beautiful & I like how you framed the boy. There's a mood of melancholy hanging in the air, when we see the boy's face...The play of light & shadows also brings out the best. This is really beautiful work David.
Best Regards
Angshu

JorgeCK (2596) 2007-10-10 10:44

Hello David,
Like this picture a lot. Very good composition. sharp image with nice soft colors.
Perfect natural light behind the little boy.
Good note
Congratulations.
joRge

Stepan (27175) 2007-11-05 21:32

I was wondering how would be the mood in a B&W touch. That's an atmosphere !!! That's strong, that's sad, that's troubling...
Well done.
Stéphane