Momma Looking After Her Charges

This woman, left is momma to three strapping boys/young men, two of

whom are pictured here, and they're having a lively interchange at a

fast food restaurant. Your ratings and critiques are invited and

most welcome. If you rate harshly or very critically, please submit

a helpful and constructive comment. Please share your superior

photographic knowledge to help improve my photography. Thanks!

Enjoy! John

Sorry, I can't give you any good lesson because I'm an absolute beginner, but I'll try to describe my opinion. I think that, in this case, choice about picture inclinated to the right doesn't add any value, also due to the little distorsion that make left part seems to be horizontal and left very rotated. A little pity the fact that boy's face is out of focus because it is a little disturbing in eyes contact between subjects. I hope we'll read experts comments to learn! Anyway, I like it.

A.Remotti, Turin, Italy

I'm glad you thought so; I didn't think it was perfect but that the woman's expression and the action just carried the day.

Others were not so convinced, but that's why they make chocolate and vanilla (no reference intended to the color of the subjects).

I just love the expression on momma's face with the whites of her eyes caught so bug-eyed and still, while her sons are blurs in the 1/10th or 1/15th second exposure.

Live and learn about what is important to raters -- you saw and rated the 'essence' of this photo; others were hung up more on details.

I like it and it would never come down -- though I wouldn't expose it as my 'very best'.

Best wishes.

John (Crosley)

Sometimes you want a level horizon absolutely and other times you take what you can get.

Sometimes a non-level (tilted) horizon can have aesthetic qualities -- it addes a note of 'impromptu' to the photo (and this photo definitely was 'imprompt').

It also can add an element of dynamism to a photo, whether the photo is otherwise static or not. Look at published photos in magazines (gazettes) to see what I mean. Many photographers will intentionally tilt their camera (or rotate their captures) to inject dyanamism where none otherwise exists.

But I take your observations at face value; this was a spur of the moment shot, and there was not time to check the horizon -- and it's posted because of the woman's face and her surprising (surprised) expression.

For me, with the context, that was all that is needed; for you, apparently not, but I think you liked it anyway.

The world is not perfect, and certainly this photo is not, but I judge it worthy of showing . . . . because I just love her expression, and it's in context (no matter how blurry her two sons).

But you have a sharp eye and a good, positive way of describing things for which I am very much indebted.

As I wrote elsewhere today after posting a number of photos featuring black Americans, I had a devil of a time approaching Blacks in the USA because of hostility, but somehow I seem to have broken through that barrier.

It requires a deft approach as an older white guy to approach totally strangers -- Black people -- and point a camera-lens combination at their faces 'out of the blue', but I do just that, but my technique in approaching is either to hide and take the shot, or to approach, explain myself (generally) then show a shot and get approval for more. I almost always get approval for more, or am denied permission in the first place from those I approach who appear to have a 'criminal' association -- on probation, parole, or active criminals whose freedom may be at stake because of their 'legal status'.

Sadly, a high percentage of young black men (disproportionately high) are incarcerated in the U.S. or otherwise under the supervision of the U.S.'s various court systems. Part of it's due to discriminatory law enforcement, and part's due to an endemic amount of criminalism within the community which has resulted in glorification of thug/gang culture, a criminal element promoted by the use of and need to traffic drugs, with associated violence, and a general indifference to incarceration (and even its glorification, no matter how that stands reason on its head).

I guess if you can't be a 'good guy' and be notable for that, just be a 'very bad guy' and fit into a second (sub)culture of the 'bad guys' who screwed up their lives and those around them for trying to make money the nonlegitimate way or engaging in turf violence or other misdeeds.

That being said, this momma obviously worked hard on her boys, as I don't see any of the three having any sort of trouble with the law (or a bad attitude at all) ever.

Thanks for letting me expound, as I was quite impressed by this momma and her sons, and your thoughtful and observant comment pleased me greatly.

John (Crosley)

I think the rating system works pretty well, overall, though it sometimes falls short in the 'street' category.

So, maybe this photo deserves mediocre ratings, but no matter what or neverthelesss, I'd always post it, just for this mother's eyes and how they're caught, all bug-eyed with a face full of delight.

If one goes looking for 'problems' with this photo (or many others) one will often see them, especially in 'street' photography, but the real question is did this photo touch some part of you that you were not in touch with before or light a spark in your heart?

If the answer was 'yes', then the photo is a winner (at least in my book), despite any technical flaws or other shortcomings.

John (Crosley)