The Candid Photograph

What’s the difference between an okay photograph and one that makes you want to keep looking at it for hours? 

In my experience, I’d have to say camera settings, proper exposure, focus, and perspective.  To me, the least important contributing factor is the subject.  When you can make even the most mundane look exciting, fresh, and appealing than you my friend have just crossed over from being a so so photographer to an exceptional one! 

WHY I PREFER THE CANDID PHOTO

Of course, I haven’t yet mastered that skill.  You know, making the mundane look extraordinary.  Mostly because I never practiced that type of photography.  In fact when I picked up my first real camera (a digital DSLR) for the first time, I aimed it right at my newborn and have been hooked on taking photographs of babies and children ever since.  I was immediately intrigued with their innocence, beauty, free spirit, dependency, curiosity, and overall demeanor!  Now I just had to figure out how to catch that on camera. 

Through the years I finally learned how to do this.  The answer summed up in one six letter word: “CANDID”.  That’s right.  It was that simple and it made sense.  The definition of candid is truthful and straightforward; frank.  And in terms of photography: taken informally.  That’s exactly what I wanted my photographs to convey.  Honesty.  No forced smiles, stuffy outfits, backdrops, reflectors, artificial lighting, props, etc.  That wouldn’t be a true representation of the child I had the pleasure of meeting.  The one I met laughed at her Nana while she made a silly face from across the park, looked curiously at the camera as she was pushed on a swing for the first time, put her hand in her mouth to relieve the pain of teething, and sported the most adorable toothless smile when her daddy kissed her on the head!  I want my images to be the end, unique, and, most importantly, true result of the child’s individual experiences.  I strive to create images that provoke interpretation.  When a person looks at my photograph and is inclined to imagine what may have been going on when I snapped the shot, than I’ve done my job!  And I’ve done it well! 

Enter: Mattea (the adorable little princess in the images below).  She is the daughter of my stepbrother.  In addition to being unbelievably photogenic, she is also good natured and happy!  Smiles were easy to come by and did I mention contagious?  Let’s not dismiss the obvious either.  How gorgeous is she?

If you missed my previous post, Does your child respect their things, feel free to check it out! 

For all you last minute shoppers that haven’t picked up something for Father’s Day, I’ve got some great Men’s Gift Recommendations too!

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