The Great Unknown(s)
“Nobody sees the person holding the camera.”
Erica O’Rourke
BEACH SILHOUETTES
This week Erica asks us to explore anonymity – what do we see when our subjects’ faces are hidden. Like Erica, I enjoy working to show meaning even when facial expressions are unseen. In my opening capture, for example, the family members’ hand holding expressed their genuine affection for each other. I shot them in silhouette because it was more about the togetherness of the family unit than the individual members.
FIREFIGHTERS ON THE RUN
“We don’t need a cloak to become invisible.”
J.K. Rowling
I created the capture above from a moving car as we were driving by firefighters running to fight a wildfire raging nearby. I loved the motion apparent in their hat flaps, and the unity of purpose shown by the single rope each of them held as they hurried by in a single file. To me the capture speaks to a sense of urgency and purpose as well as incredible teamwork.
BOY WITH A HAT
“Artists see the invisible before anyone else.”
Donna Goddard
The “boy with a hat” photograph above is one of my personal favorites. To me it captures a sense of the burden he carries, both literally and figuratively. Is his head down because of the weight of the sack on his back, or perhaps because there is so little for him to look forward to? In either case, as a photographer it was to me a moment that demanded preservation.
BABIES AT PLAY
“To be invisible, you need to be visible.”
Anthony T. Hincks
OK, I’ll admit it. I included my final capture above because these babies are just too adorable NOT to be included! They are the grandson and granddaughter of two good friends who honored me with a request to do a photo shoot of their family. I was reminded of the old commercial line “When EF Hutton talks, people listen.” Do you suppose it was a stock tip being shared, or more likely a suggestion on how to sneak down to the ocean when no one was looking?! 😀
I particularly enjoyed this week’s “Face in A Crowd” challenge and hope you did too.
Note: For today’s post I’ve chosen to further increase the anonymity of the subjects through the use of impressionism in post-processing. For those who are interested, here are the original captures.
Travels and Trifles 
Great interpretation of the theme. I really like the sense of urgency in the firefighters.
Very interesting to see the two versions. All in all outstandingly good, Tina.
Thanks Dina!
Sent from my iPhone
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Intriguing! Great interpretation of the challenge.
Thanks RP!
Lovely series Tina. You really are an impressionist at heart. 🙂
I am indeed Andrew – thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for sharing the originals, I always enjoy getting an idea of the starting point when it comes to editing. You have done a nice job responding to the challenge. Of this set, beach silhouettes is my favorite, it’s a nice shot and I love the color in it.
Cheers, Amy
Thanks very much Amy – they are a very special family and I think their personal warmth came through as much as the sun did!
Love this post …… photos, quotes , priceless
Thank you GF—so happy you connected w it
Wonderful edits on these, Tina.
I especially love the firefighters.
Have a great week ahead!
Thanks very much Lisa-a great week to you too!
Gorgeous images, Tina, so well captured from cherubic baby faces to heroic racing firefighters! I like to use post editing myself when publishing faces, especially of children, or people who haven’t given permission to use their likeness. What is the editing program you use again? I meant to write it down last time you featured it. Thanks!
Thanks Terri – these were all edited using Topaz Studio Impressions. It’s very easy to use and offers some really nice options.
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Thanks so much, Tina!
I love the babies as most women would, but the 8 young people holding hands made me truly smile. In this day, the idea that these people would be that happy and willing to put their phones down to enjoy the moment is a good thing. 🙂
That’s very funny Judy–I hadn’t thought of it that way! This is a family that really enjoys each others’ company and while, like most people, their “millennials” are phone-dependent, they do put them down when they gather as a group 😀
Awesome photos Tina – I especially like the firemen – that is quite unique
Thank you Nora. This week’s clear favorite
Sorry about the auto-correct Nora. Fat fingered and incorrectly “fixed”. Grrrr
The fireman photo has really captured the feeling of urgency and the working together as a team to get a job done. Amazing image.
Thanks Pauline. The best compliment a photographer can receive!
Beautiful shots Tina! Love your use of a “painting” program, makes the photos come alive!
Many thanks T!
Love your photo and description of thee fire fighters
“Nobody sees the person holding the camera.”
That certainly used to be true before mobile phones in the hands of teenagers.
LOL re the mobiles Abrie. The firefighters seem to have struck a chord
WOW. I love Firefighters on the run. That is an amazing shot. You go girl!!!
Thanks GF, so pleased u liked it! Always nice to see I pop up!
just an amazimg comparison Tina…..the firefights shot especially stands out…as u mentioned ‘an urgency’ feeling….gorgeous !!
Thanks you April. Clearly the week’s favorite
I especially love that firefighter shot!
Many thanks Rajiv
Love the photos and the take on the prompt
Thanks Dahlia!
Lovely series of photos as usual, Tina. You got very creative with anonymous vs not-so-anonymous there. Any face is a face in the crowd and we all have some sort of purpose and matter to someone. Really like the wispiness of the original firefigher shot – men on a mission. Did you get family to post for you at the beach. Such a meaingful shot, walking together hand in and in towards light and the darkness to come 🙂
Thanks Mabel- my goal was to show different ways to achieve anonymity but still have meaning. Glad you enjoyed the effort!
Wonderful choices, Tina. Love your silhouette photo!
Thanks Svetlana—we got lucky w a beautiful sunset that evening
Tina, those are such terrific images, either painted or straight, I can’t tell which one is my favorite, they all present the moment as you have seen it. Though I prefer the straight images a bit more, but maybe because I am an old school photographer. Thank you for sharing your beautiful work.
Many thanks Cornelia. I do love impressionist art so enjoy playing with images this way, but I’d call it purist bs old-fashioned—and you are surely not alone in preferring the original images! Feedback much appreciated
Tina–your photos are, to me, in a class by themselves. Superb, always. I am intrigued by the firefighter photo. From a moving car, no less–it’s wonderful. But, oh, the cheeks on that little one–he is some kind of cute!
What a lovely compliment – thanks so much Lois. The firefighters were so eye-catching in their red and yellow running in perfect order to face the flames. Amazing commitment
Beautifully done, Tina. I love the firefighters on the run especially!
Many thanks Amy. It seems the clear favorite this week
I love the way you have “painted” your photos. Great captures, I especially love the boy and the hat, perfect timing…
Thanks very much Maggie, glad you enjoyed these. Timing IS everything, isn’t it??
A beautiful selection for the challenge Tina! I prefer the original images, especially the first two of the family holding hands and the firefighters xxx
Thanks Xenia – appreciate the feedback!
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Your capture of this topic is beautiful. Like others, my favorite is the firefighters too. I love the original, which is really close to the edited version. There is something about the way that particular photo speaks to me, it says so much without really knowing anything about who each person is. The team dedication and belonging of the group speaks volumes. Fabulous photos! Thanks for sharing your point of view.
thanks so much for your comment DD – I love to hear that one of my photos captures the essence of what I meant it to say!
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Tina, your images work well either way. The post processing does give them more of a painterly touch, which adds a subtle layer of intrigue.
Thanks Sally. It’s personal preference for sure. I have just always loved impressionist works so those appeal to me personally. Most of my followers as well as my husband do seem to prefer the originals. As always, the eye of the beholder is key
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Great response to the prompt, and I love the bustle of the second image….
Many thanks Sue!
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I really love this technique.
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Terrific impressions, Tina. Fun to see the babies- they look so different now. I really like Boy with Hat, especially as a straight image.
Thanks Jane – they do grow up fast, don’t they?!
Lovely captures, Tina. My favorite is the first shot with a silhouette
Thanks Arv, the sun was perfect that evening!
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The firemen are my favourite in both the original and the edits. The boy and the hat in the edits. I do like your impressionist artwork. Another great post Tina.
Thanks very much Jude – those firemen were amazing running INTO danger.
They do an excellent job.
As usual, a very thoughtful collection of pictures with words accompanying them. I think the “boy with the hat” captures the spirit of this theme the best.
Thanks so much for your visit and comment. He does fit into the anonymity aspect, doesn’t he?
Yes, the picture captures the burden of the common man, who, in a sense, is the anonymous person in the crowd.
Thank for showing the faces of these babies,Tina. They are indeed adorable chubby cheeks. My favorite is the firefighters. They are the unsung hero, saving lives without recognition and incognito. Perpetua
Thanks Perpetua – the babies aren’t babies any more but they are still sweet little cherubs! And the firefighters were incredible.
I really like the originals, Tina, but I also loved the edits. The second one is my favorite and it was interesting to see that it started out more like the edit than any of the others. Happy Friday!
janet
thanks Janet – yes the firefighter shot was a very lucky capture. It’s not often I’m in the car with camera in hand. I think I was expecting to shoot photos of the fire itself, which I did, but the firefighters were much more interesting!
These are stunning photos even before the special effects. But you are masterful at redesigning even this simplest of pictures. Thanks for the accompanying narratives. I love this whole post!!!!
What a wonderful compliment – thanks so much for sharing your lovely thoughts about this one.
Love the first one! 😊
Thanks very much – it was a bit of a challenge to get everyone right but for the most part I think it worked!
It worked, indeed. 😃