[vc_row margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ animation=”” type=”” bg_color=”” bg_position=”top” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_cover=”false” bg_attachment=”false” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″ enable_parallax=”” parallax_speed=”0.1″ bg_video_src_mp4=”” bg_video_src_ogv=”” bg_video_src_webm=””][vc_column animation=””][vc_column_text]
Of all my Instagram posts going back to when I started in October 2014, this is the one that got the most likes and comments. Like many of my photos, there is a bit of a story behind it. I would like to share that with you here.
[/vc_column_text][ultimate_spacer height=”30″][vc_separator css=”.vc_custom_1532643188671{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]
The story behind the photo
Many of the photos I post on Instagram are latergrams. When I am out and about I usually take so many photos that it’s impossible to share more than a few at the time. And I have over 130,000 photos in my files, many of which I would like to share. This one, however, was hot off the press when I posted it.
I had just arrived in Paris that day, gone to the apartment where I was staying and then headed out to see what was what. It was April and Paris was enjoying an Indian summer of sorts. Everyone was out and about enjoying the unseasonably warm weather.
Strangely enough, as I walked and bicycled my way around the main sights of Paris, I was having a tough time finding things to photograph. I found out the next day that it was just tiredness and jet lag and everything looked very different after a good night’s sleep!
I was just about to give up for the day and, feeling somewhat disgruntled, I decided to walk back to my apartment through Luxembourg Gardens which was just full of people out enjoying the weather. I did not really see anything I wanted to photograph.
And then I came across this scene that you see in the photo. It stopped me in my tracks. It was like a jolt. I did a double take. It impressed me tremendously and struck some chord. Nobody else seemed to notice it. There were crowds everywhere but nobody was looking at this little vignette. I just had to photograph it. I wanted to capture the scene without intruding in any way or being rude. It was difficult to get an angle that actually showed what was going on without including hundreds of people in the background.
I walked around a bit trying to get a good location to shoot from without being obtrusive. Then I made up my mind and took the first picture. It’s this one. I’ll show it again so you can see the full frame.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”35442″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Interestingly enough this was not my favorite photo of the scene. To me it had a bit of a mixed message or at least a slightly diluted message. There was the dad with the youngest child sprawled over him, both asleep, and there, a little distance away, was the older child asleep in the stroller. It seemed that the younger one was getting more of dad’s care and love. I really don’t think this was the case at all, but it could look that way.
I took some more photos. The next one is my favorite. I also posted this on Instagram and interestingly enough (to me) it was not as popular as the first one, even though it was very well received. I don’t know what you think.
To me this next one shows the complete trust of a child for her dad and the dad’s complete love, care and protection of the child, oblivious of all that was going on around (it was very crowded). The child’s trust is so complete. It’s easier to see in this photo as you can see the child’s face and position clearly. And the dad’s care is so visible. That’s what the scenario was all about in my mind.
I still feel this is the simpler message and the stronger shot.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”35443″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This incident and photos changed my day. From a pretty demoralizing arrival in Paris and first day’s excursion, I suddenly felt I had something great, something worthwhile. I got back to the apartment and downloaded the photos I had taken that day and these were the only ones I was really happy with.
I posted one of them on Instagram the next day not really knowing what to expect. To my surprise and delight (because I am delighted when people see things the way I see them) I got an overwhelming response in terms of people liking and commenting on the photo. Head and shoulders above my usual posts, even the ones that do well. It must have struck the same chord with the viewers that it struck with me.
I would appreciate your opinion. I’ll just include a couple more I took of the same scene. I would like to know which is your favorite and why. To view the full image, click or tap on it and it will enlarge to show the whole frame.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1549552973231-43fc9f9d-6eda-4″ include=”35444,35445″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Well. that’s it for this post. I will try to post more regularly. I have been remiss, I know. Please don’t forget I have a multimedia, digital book for sale Reflections of Venice – Art and Beauty in the Water. If you haven’t read/viewed it, you can see what it’s all about here and you can either download quite a substantial free introduction (just email me and I’ll send you a link to download) or purchase the full book from the iBooks Store (best version) or from my shop for Windows and Android. I’ve also just added a Kindle version on Amazon which will work fine on later model Kindle devices or in the Kindle app for Windows or Android. I also sell prints of my photos and you can choose from a really wide selection of images printed on archival paper, canvas or metal. You’re welcome to have a look at what is in my shop, but bear in mind that you can request any image on the website as a print.
I am always keen to hear from you. You can contact me any time with questions or feedback.
Please leave a comment, and share this post if you like it.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Such a beautiful moment captured, David. And very poignant insight into your thoughts as you composed the images. As a photographer, it is so rewarding when viewers respond to an image with the same enthusiasm as you felt when you took it. That doesn’t always happen, but with this touching scene, who could fail to feel it?
Thanks! It’s funny, you know, I really have not got to the point where I know what the response to my photos is going to be. As you say, when you love a photo and you’re not sure how it’s going to go over, it’s really encouraging to know that there are enough like-minded people seeing it to make it all worthwhile. I was very heartened at the response to this one.
Hi David –
Actually, my favorite shot of the group is the bottom right photo, (the one on the right of the last two that you showed) I like angle of the child’s face, the negative space around the father’s head, and the line of the bench at the top. And you know how I love to crop photos! I like the two faces together, his arms around her, with the child’s arm dangling. even like the shoes and wheels of the other child’s stroller. It makes you wonder what’s going on around them.
Hi Adrienne, Thanks for taking the time to read and leave a comment. I like that one too. Your reasons make sense. Thanks again!
The scene is very touching with fathers arms holding the child and her little hand hanging peacefully. We usually imaginine fathers as a kind of loving authority and seeing them that sweet nursing little one with calm and serenity is heart melting message. It’s probably true the little one gets more cuddles than the older child in the stroller at the moment. It’s natural way with smaller children and we adopt somehow for changing needs as parents. Also the older one had his extra cuddles during his younger years 🙂
The first one (the most popular photo) is my favorite too. I love the angle and the entire composition. It looks so natural and realistic. Also because I can see the entire scene with the older sleeping son in the stroller. On the next pictures I can see his shoes only and it’s making me sad for him. While on the first one I see him closer to the father.
Thank you for sharing the story and the touching pictures!
Thank you very much Anna for taking the time to read the blog, study the photos and leave your thoughtful comments which all make perfect sense. Much appreciated!
Hello David! These photos are beautiful!!!! I think they were worth the down feeling on your first day there!
And trying to understand the picture I do see what you see. I see the trust between the little one and the dad. And I’m pretty sure if anyone just gets close to the older child he’ll open his eyes and look saying, “Get out of here intruder!” Hehehehhe
Excellent post and photos!!!!!
Thanks so much Caroline. I always appreciate your feedback! Yes, that’s exactly right but also the other people around there would have very quickly reacted to protect the child if anything had happened. It was a very very peaceful, friendly community scene.