Need Help Deciding Between These Two

[Colin Southern]

Colin,

Lacking any skills to make a judgment on the technical merits of either image, I can only give you an opinion based solely on my emotional impressions of the images themselves.

First, she is clearly pondering something in that 2nd image that makes her smile. Smiles are good, anytime.

In the first image she has an almost pensive look on her face, as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders...and no little angel should have to bear such heavy sorrows.

It makes me want to ask her: "Please, tell me what is making you so sad?"

Since you are going to print it in a large format, then one would presume that she is going to be seeing it frequently? I agree that life is often painful, and your image does truly capture that emotion, but why continually remind her of this as she grows up?

My

Hi Mike,

Thanks for that.

Deep and meaningful stuff, but just for the record, it was just a pose - gone in a moment, never to be seen again

[tb72]

Sorry guys but personaly I prefer #1. She is in her thoughts and we don't know which ones

[MrB]

Colin, - Sorry I missed this when it was first posted. I like #1.

In the first image she has an almost pensive look on her face, as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders...and no little angel should have to bear such heavy sorrows.

It makes me want to ask her: "Please, tell me what is making you so sad?"

Since you are going to print it in a large format, then one would presume that she is going to be seeing it frequently? I agree that life is often painful, and your image does truly capture that emotion, but why continually remind her of this as she grows up?

I find this to be quite a depressing adult view of the mind of a child.

For me the first image depicts a contented little girl, momentarily absorbed in her own little world, seemingly oblivious to her surroundings. The second image gives a more social picture - she appears to be interacting with someone (or something) else. The first is, therefore, a much more powerful portrait of the child herself.

Philip

[Colin Southern]

Colin, - Sorry I missed this when it was first posted. I like #1.



I find this to be quite a depressing adult view of the mind of a child.

For me the first image depicts a contented little girl, momentarily absorbed in her own little world, seemingly oblivious to her surroundings. The second image gives a more social picture - she appears to be interacting with someone (or something) else. The first is, therefore, a much more powerful portrait of the child herself.

Philip

Thanks Phillip,

Maybe I'll just ask the Mum which one she likes

[Dizzy]

Colin, - Sorry I missed this when it was first posted. I like #1.

I find this to be quite a depressing adult view of the mind of a child.
For me the first image depicts a contented little girl, momentarily absorbed in her own little world, seemingly oblivious to her surroundings. The second image gives a more social picture - she appears to be interacting with someone (or something) else. The first is, therefore, a much more powerful portrait of the child herself.
Philip

I shared my honest reaction to the image, and while it may be viewed by some as a "...a depressing adult view of the mind of a child", I did nothing more than share the emotions I felt in response to the image. I looked at the little girls face, and those were the emotions I felt she was portraying.

Philip, after reading your impressions (shared above) I would have to agree that your perception could very well be more accurate. I certainly meant no offense, however it would have been disingenuous of me to share anything other than what I honestly felt.

It is true that I lack a formal understanding of artistic impression, but in my own defense I did preface my comments with that very disclaimer. My apologies to you for my lack of artistic vision, and although I feel my impressions are equally as valid as those of anyone else, in the future it's probably best I keep my comments to myself.

[Colin Southern]

I feel my impressions are equally as valid as those of anyone else

Of course they are

Honestly though folks, I'd suggest not getting too caught up in the (over)-analysis - at the end of the day these two shots were just momentary poses - along with a hundred others - all taken within the space of a few minutes. So depite how it might get interpreted, the reality is she's just a kid having a bit of fun doing something new for a few minutes until she got bored with it -- they certainly weren't "studies in human emotion" or anything like that

[Colin Southern]

[MrB]

I feel my impressions are equally as valid as those of anyone else, in the future it's probably best I keep my comments to myself.

Dear Mike,

I am sorry that you seem to have taken my post the wrong way - your comments caused no offense and there is no need for apology. Just like you, I was simply expressing my view.

I certainly agree with Colin. The diversity of opinions is one of the features that makes the CiC forums so interesting - please keep on expressing your own views here.

(If you have read all the other contributions to this thread, you will have noticed that I am the odd ball here - being in the tiny minority, defiantly preferring image #1!)

Philip

[Dizzy]

Philip,

No worries. Up way too late last night trying to teach myself how to take close-up images, and my typically thick skin had apparently thinned a bit. I'm often told by the wife to "Lighten up!", as I am known to take things waaayyy too seriously at times..

I certainly agree with Colin. The diversity of opinions is one of the features that makes the CiC forums so interesting - please keep on expressing your own views here.

Will do.

Colin: Still working on that first cup of coffee for the day, but couldn't help but crack a big smile in response to the last pic..what a great way to start a day!

Mike

[FrankMi]

Hi Colin, all previous comments aside, I really LOVE this shot with the typical kid's 'are we done yet' comment, but the best is the bit about the dragons! It brings a smile to may face and because it creates a pleasing emotion in the viewer, if it were mine, it'd be posted in the next Mini! Thank you for a smile that will likely last for quite a while!

[Colin Southern]

Hi Mike & Frank,

Yep - she's a typical kid

[Equilibrium8]

Hi, I think the decision has been made by now, but wanted to share my thoughts as none of the other comments seemed to align with them.

As a dad myself, I would go with the 1st image. The 2nd one is great, and as has been pointed out, smiles are great. But every time I looked at it I would think what a nice photo and it would bring a smile to my face and I would carry on my day. The 1st one would probably make me stop and wonder what she was pondering every time I saw it, and get drawn into the photo with continual intrigue. Maybe every time is an exaggeration, but I think you get my meaning.

[Colin Southern]

Thanks Kenny,

I still haven't got around to asking the Mum (or more accurately getting my daughter to "facebook" her!) - I'll let you all know which one she wants though!