page 124, The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett
today, i chose the word "father" from the 14th line. one would think it is an easy word. it is easy, yes, and i could've taken a picture of just any bloke and tell you he's a father. well, that was my plan, and failing that, my partner and his son but the photo is about a month old. but how do you interpret father in a photograph?
this is a sneak shot today at the subway station: a father and his little son, about 3 would be my guess because the boy could already speak quite clearly. what struck me was that the father was very sweet to his son and the son was such a sweet boy from the sound of his voice. the boy insisted he was going to walk with his father as opposed to the father carrying him. the father was walking at the son's pace, without hurrying up or dragging the boy along. the father said they should go to the front of the train so that the boy could see the tracks, would he like him to carry him because it would be a long walk? they boy said he would walk. just then we heard the sound of the coming subway train and the father told the boy that maybe he should carry him, to which the boy politely asked, "oh, can you?"
at this point, i had turned on my camera and i got a "memory card error" dangit! and that's when the father scooped up the little boy and i took this photo. it's not very clear, pardon me. i was going to take another shot, but the man kept looking back as the train would be coming from behind us, and i didn't want him to see me take their picture. he probably would not have minded, but just in case he did, i took the sneak route. one day, i shall be brave enough to ask.
there, that's my interpretation of "father" albeit a blurry one.
@jannkc - thanks, jann. in hindsight, i should have come up to the man and told him what a great father he is. there was really something special about the two of them.
@sunnygreenwood - thanks, anne. oh, it stresses me to the max, i can admit that, as of course i have other things to do. since yesterday i've been trying to put my books on the shelves and i'm too fuzzy about sizes, colour and subjects (a friend actually thinks i might be OCD hahahaha!). three large shelves i had to deal with. then this morning i had to go all over toronto looking for 'vineyard pantry' brand of mustard and blue cheese (anyone knows where i can purchase?) but the search was an epic failure; plus my other routine stuff - writing, reading, household chores. holy mackinaw! no wonder i am stressed!!! :-D it's a good thing most of the photography can be done (sneakly) as i do the other stuff.
@cscecil - thanks, CS. it was really special to have overheard them. you know, when you read the papers and all it ever tells you are bad news, it is such a good feeling to witness something like this.
I think it looks very sentimental that way- like it's a picture in someone's memory of something special and treasured. I would have been sneaky too- unless the child pointed me out! Good shot! Great interpretation of father.
@olivetreeann - yes, that's one way of looking at it. i know there's no excuse to be posting blurry pictures at this stage of the project, but sometimes the blur tells the story, too. thanks so much, ann. much appreciated.
I agree with Ann....it looks misty and memory-ish! I love , love, love it. Your detailed story was great. Sometimes, asking ruins the shot, but you could shoot it and then go up and tell them why you shot the pic and "is it okay?" Then if they say no, I guess delete it. (sad) But sneak shots that capture true feelings....great!
@meggageg - hi, meggy. thanks so much. glad you're back.
@espyetta - it's a double headed monster, this sneak shot business. if you ask and you're refused, you'll be watched and that ruins it for you. if they agree, the spontaneity is ruined because they'd be conscious. then if you just take a sneak shot and you're caught, they get mad. but i've read on the law on public shooting and privacy so in a way i know my rights, but at the same time i also respect other people's privacy. thank you, MB, much appreciated.
Beautiful interpretation of the word and wonderful story. Great catch, summerfield. Blurred or not . . you caught the essence. You're like me, I can only "intrude" so far and then no more. We do have our boundaries, don't we.
nice one,not easy being a farther sometimes understanding is often beyond patience,but love is easy to give and as long as there's love."how does the beatles song go"
@karenann - the beautiful thing for us is we live in countries where we are free to decide for ourselves. we can set our own boundaries when it comes to this thing. two weeks ago there was a long discussion on the DB about sneak shots. we can discuss all we want, but it all boils down to respecting other people and setting our own boundaries. thank you, karenann. much appreciated.
@danig - thank you, DG. it's refreshing that once in a while you see a photograph that gives you that feeling. much appreciated, friend.
@steeler - ah, the perspective from a father himself. i suppose the song is "all you need is love"; love guides us in all things we do especially when it comes to our family. thank you, howard. much appreciated.
@alia_801 - thank you, alia. i suppose because i am always on the lookout for something to write about that i am acutely aware of conversations like that. to me, this is one of the most special photographs i've taken, in terms of the story behind the shot. your challenge is making me use my old worn out wisdom. thank you.
as the mother of very special and wonderfu fathers, your photo really speaks to me. the slight blur is nice, gives it a softness you might have edited in otherwise. the other day i was reading an article written by 2 men who interviewed protesters at the 'occupy wall street' protest who said the 1st thing you do when approaching stangers is insult them. that will get them reacting to you, then you will get good photos. i thought, these guys are jerks and i will get myself hurt! after reading it, i had to remember it had a VERY political slant but really, what a way to approach people on the street! insult them, and then take their photos?
@catsmeowb - yeah, right! by the time you're ready to take a photo (1) someone's foot is in your face, (2) your equipment's trashed! what idiotic belief, isn't it? i worry about the young people. with all their me me and just me attitude, what is the future going to be like? there is an offshoot of that protest happening here in toronto since last saturday - occupy toronto. what baffles me is some of the instigators are 'masked'. i figure they protest against their very own, as i would guess they are children or family of the corporate executives whose companies they protest against. how ungrateful and how cowardly, don't you think?
i think this is what makes the photograph above more sensible. from what i heard from the conversation between this grown man and his little boy, his boy is going to grow up well. yes, there will still be the sensible people in the future.
@roth - sue, do you see that camera aimed at me? hahahaha! i just noticed it now. so while i was aiming my camera at the strangers, that subway camera was recording my actions. i better start wearing hats or caps. thank you, sue.
great capture! everything about this shot is very clever - and I appreciate the identity protection of your subjects...although, of course, you know that I love to take candid portraits....
@patticake - your candid portraits are in a different setting, different situation. me, i'm just taking a sneak shot for my theme. hahahaha! thank you, patti.
@sunnygreenwood - thanks, anne. oh, it stresses me to the max, i can admit that, as of course i have other things to do. since yesterday i've been trying to put my books on the shelves and i'm too fuzzy about sizes, colour and subjects (a friend actually thinks i might be OCD hahahaha!). three large shelves i had to deal with. then this morning i had to go all over toronto looking for 'vineyard pantry' brand of mustard and blue cheese (anyone knows where i can purchase?) but the search was an epic failure; plus my other routine stuff - writing, reading, household chores. holy mackinaw! no wonder i am stressed!!! :-D it's a good thing most of the photography can be done (sneakly) as i do the other stuff.
@espyetta - it's a double headed monster, this sneak shot business. if you ask and you're refused, you'll be watched and that ruins it for you. if they agree, the spontaneity is ruined because they'd be conscious. then if you just take a sneak shot and you're caught, they get mad. but i've read on the law on public shooting and privacy so in a way i know my rights, but at the same time i also respect other people's privacy. thank you, MB, much appreciated.
@danig - thank you, DG. it's refreshing that once in a while you see a photograph that gives you that feeling. much appreciated, friend.
@alia_801 - thank you, alia. i suppose because i am always on the lookout for something to write about that i am acutely aware of conversations like that. to me, this is one of the most special photographs i've taken, in terms of the story behind the shot. your challenge is making me use my old worn out wisdom. thank you.
i think this is what makes the photograph above more sensible. from what i heard from the conversation between this grown man and his little boy, his boy is going to grow up well. yes, there will still be the sensible people in the future.
thank you, camille. so glad you're here :-)
@altadc - brain-depleting challenges. as i said, i am a sucker for punishment so...thank you, alta.