I am just in the midst of editing a mom + baby session from a month or so ago and came across this image. Now I have thoughts on this image, but I wanted to see what your thoughts are? How does it make you feel? Or does it do nothing for you? Do you see love? Do you see frustration? Do you feel a connection? Any thoughts...no right and no wrong...just let me hear them.
Interesting
A lot of people may not like the big flare out and it could be perceived as quite sinister in a horror movie knid of way.
having said that, I Like it as a MnB shot
John
It is interesting but it has too many distractions. I think that if you cropped it tighter so that there what not so much of the burnout showing that it would focus the viewer's eyes on the Mom and Baby....but as cool as it is I am not sure that it would ever work for the mom. Show it to her and see.
Stripper wrote:
It is interesting but it has too many distractions. I think that if you cropped it tighter so that there what not so much of the burnout showing that it would focus the viewer's eyes on the Mom and Baby....but as cool as it is I am not sure that it would ever work for the mom. Show it to her and see.
JohnC
Thanks John...however I am not looking for critique on the images technical merit...I am looking for peoples feelings when they view the image.
The image PP and crop and not really the discussion I am looking for. Thanks though for taking the time to let me know your thoughts and suggestions.
I like the shot....it isn't quite a full of joy shot...but shows a real moment between a mom and baby. I don't get frustration from it at all. I personally love the style of it.
Personally, it's kind of dark and moody for me. Something about the combination of the baby's expression, the mother's firm hand and the lack of the mother's face.
Not sure if that helped much, just what came to mind when I saw it. YMMV
Since you mentioned frustration, I see that in the way she is holding the baby. The hand holding his head looks tight and severe, not at all relaxed, although the kid looks happy enough. Cant see what mom is doing. But she ain't smiling...
I see a mother squeezing the back of a babies neck with no expression... rather like she is going to break the skull or is simply looking at an object that is being evaluated for retention or discarding... the lighting only reinforces my perceived irratation in the photograph... this is honestly how it makes me feel.
That being said on second look, not letting hte lens flare set the mood... it maybe a moment of understanding btw mother and child but again the "technical merrits" in this case set the obvious tone to me and matter greatly to the photo.
It will be interesting to see your thoughts and comments at the end of peer review :-)
Mama's left hand really strikes me, and not in a loving or feminine way. I think the lack of detail in her face makes one look elsewhere for intent, and that strong bruised-looking hand tight aroung the little nipper's head makes me worry for his/her safety.
Not that I don't like the shot - I just don't know if this was the emotion you want to evoke.
My eye is drawn to the mother's hand, which is flexed and strong, then to the baby's expression, which is content and secure, but eyes closed against the flare, then mother's serene expression. It is unusual to be able to read a connection when neither party's eyes can be seen. Interesting image.
What disconnects me from the shot is the mother's mouth is flat and expressionless. I find myself wanting to see more of the mother but the flare-out is in my way.
If there was even the slightest of smiles from the mother, it would bring a smile to my face, being a new dad. However, the fact that I cannot see emotion from her, disengages me.
haven't read others' posts so i wouldn't parrot what was already said-i'm mixed on it-the light almost looks as if it were emanating from the mother, like an angelic being-he's crying, as if in a stranger's arms-so maybe the "angel" rescued the little baby-i don't know-i don't see a connection b/c her eyes are lost and his expression is not one of comfort in a mother's arms
....still, there's a concept there that's very interesting-hope that's helpful in some way
I am a lurker here and a voyer of Photography in general. I love to look at images. I have viewed thousands of images here and never commented a single time. I'm not sure why I am now other than the fact that my personal intrest is photograpghing children "mainly my own, I have a 3 year old and 8 month old". This picture did get a reaction out of me emotionally. I still dont know what that emotion is? The photo troubles me a bit? For me, I think it boils down to the mothers hand and how tense it seems The photo doesnt leave me with a warm fuzzy? It weird, and its weird you asked the way you did saying you had an opinion about it yourself. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts... My comments are respectful and of course in MHO...
I've come back and looked at this image several times since yesterday, thinking perhaps I might see if differently. I don't like it. It is missing the elements that should be present between a mother and child. I see what appears to be a child crying, and an indifferent expression on the face of the mother (what you can see of her). The flare adds an ominous tone to the image, IMO.
wow...thanks everyone for taking the time to look and write your thoughts...it has been very interesting to see the range of feelings this image had on everyone.
So I wanted to share my feelings....I see the hand and I see the baby crying, but I see a mother who truly loves her little boy. She is holding him tight, so not to drop him....I see her humming to him (I was there...this is why I see that) I see her trying to calm him....that is what I see...the feeling of protection and patience.
Now I can see why those of you see a dis-connection, as her hand does looked clenched, he is crying and her face is expressionless. These things are the exact reason I wanted to post this image. This particular image truly does have two sides...it can be interpreted both ways. You may see Love and protection and others will see dis-connection and fear.
However I assure you there is plenty of love and a very deep connection between this Mother and her baby boy.
Thanks again everyone for your time and thoughts and I end this with a image with much more "connection"
The photo doesnt leave me with a warm fuzzy? It weird, and its weird you asked the way you did saying you had an opinion about it yourself. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts... My comments are respectful and of course in MHO...