RegularDad’s been working hard these days. Mostly 12-hour days, 7 days a week. But yesterday he took a day off and we all went down to the beach. The weather was cool and overcast, but I almost like that kind of beach day better. No suits or sunscreen required. Just playing in the sand and watching the water. And taking pictures. Here’s a great shot I somehow managed to get:
I had just planned on opening this up real quick in Photoshop and doing a simple crop and contrast correction so I could post it and move on to other things, like popcorn and Pride & Prejudice on cable, but I got distracted by the different emotional states I created just by zooming in on the same picture and cropping it closer and closer. See the first picture up there? Have a look and ask yourself how you feel. Got your emotions identified? Good. Now, look at this one:
Feel any different?
Here’s one more:
Now how do you feel?
Here’s how it went for me: In that first one, I was feeling good and a little motherly, you know. Like, oh look how darling, the two of them together. In the second one, I wasn’t really the watching-mother anymore. I could feel the little girl’s emotions (a little afraid, but also secure because of the father’s presence) a lot stronger. I became less of an observer. In the third one, I felt like I was intruding. It was too close, you know? And the emotional state of the little girl is virtually gone, in my opinion.
If I were to choose one of these three to print and frame, it’d have to be the second image.
Pretty cool, huh?
So, leave me a comment, if you like. Tell me how you felt. I’m curious. And now, it’s off to pop that popcorn.
You know what? I feel kind of lame saying this because it sounds like I am just parroting you. But you nailed it. That was exactly how I felt about all three pics. My perspective shifted from a motherly observer to the feelings of the little girl just like that.
Keep blogging about cool fall weather and you are going to find a weird strange woman camped out next to your frog head in your yard.
Oh shit. I am on dh’s computer WITHOUT SPELL CHECK. We’ll see who can spell hallylooya now!
Kat, cracks me up! I’m glad your hubby got a day off with yall. And thank you so much for helping me with that award for heather. You are super sweet!
I love those overcast days at the beach too - talk about changing your emotional state!
Agree with you on the photos but I like the first one for framing…the expanse of the large grey-blue ocean deftly contained by the sense of security that comes from a little girls holding their daddy’s hand.
xo
RegSis
Well, that’s weird. I typed up this whole big response last night, and clicked submit, and it’s not here. Huh….
oh well.
Thanks for the opinions. Katherine, I’m just glad someone else had a similar experience. Makes me think that I’m not always just talking out my….well…you know.
And RegularSis…you may be right. The first one for a picture frame, and the second one for a greeting card. Yes?
Well, gotta run, the kids are bickering. Must be dinnertime.
Oooh yes!