Most of the time we take pictures because we want to preserve whatever is happening around us: a baby’s smile, the sunrise, the first snow. Effort is made to capture things exactly as they are, so that the record of your moment can match and remind you of your fond memory. But sometimes what happens in the camera is wildly different from what happened in your mind. This image was taken on a slightly overcast, but extraordinarily happy day in Paris when I was visiting for the first time with my husband. We were trying to do and see everything in the two and a half days we had there. I snapped this moment quickly from my hip, thinking of not much more than trying to fit the magnitude of the building into the frame. I was delighted by the lovely out of focus ghost figures that emerged. But I was also surprised by the gloomy mood of the image. Because it doesn’t match the memory I have for that day, which is light-hearted, and doused with a sense of adventure as we explored all of these magnificent buildings for the first time.
Does that ever happen to you? Do you ever end up with a photograph that turns out to be the exact opposite of what you remember happened? We would love for you to share with us today.
Jill says
An extraordinary morning last September – the sky was blue, fog hovering over Humboldt Bay, perfect and still reflections on the water.
I was late to a meeting, but pulled over anyways – knowing I regret not taking the time, and an image permanently emblazoned in my memory and no one to believe it.
Quick settings adjustment, fired off three shots and jumped back into the idling car. I was late to my meeting, but heck. The image is much more surreal than I remember that day….
http://humbirdhum.wordpress.com/2010/09/03/morning-reflections-2/
mimo says
I was on a plain in South East Asia with my daughter. She was sitting by the window and I only had my 135mm lens with me, which is impossible to use in such a short distance. I kept trying to get shots of her while she was being super hyper and would not slow down. I never imagined I would get a dreamy, relaxed, almost angelical shot from those 3 minutes.
But now it is one of my favorite portraits I ever shot.
Here is the link to the photo:
http://flic.kr/p/9n5jNN
Oh, and I love the photo you posted! I love the mystery in it, the ghost like people and the way they are going in different directions along the lines on the ground. And the sky!
Sandee says
I had a day like that last November…
http://daydreamsm.blogspot.com/2010/11/hayden-lake.html
C Blore says
Last fall the morning of my second 1/2 marathon felt cold, damp and foggy. I wanted to try and capture the eery feeling that was hanging around the warm up area and quickly snapped a couple of pics with my tiny point and shoot that was tucked into my running belt.
I was completely surprised how it had translated once I got home. The rising sun somehow gave it a serene feeling rather than the cold sterile one I was trying to capture. Proof that you never know what exactly is going to come out of your camera and why I always have one tucked in my belt when I run.
http://winnipegweddingphotographybycoral.blogspot.com/2011/03/dreary-foggy-morning.html
Winn says
It's a great shot! Very photojournalistic quality, which I'm completely in love with!
Judith says
This photo was taken on the deck of the Ile de France, pulling into New York Harbor before dawn. This was so long ago that it was cheaper to go to Europe by ship than by airplane (almost no one will remember this but me). After eight weeks abroad, we were returning home, and I went up on deck to catch a view of the Statue of Liberty and the skyline. Even in the half-light it was New York, hard-edged, in your face. Home.
But look at this moody shot (I call it Moody Harbor): perhaps the boat was rocking, perhaps it was too early for a firm grip on the camera, who knows? But here it is —
https://picasaweb.google.com/tsarinaxyz/Miscellaneous#
(I have my doubts whether the link will work —)
Through the Lens of Kimberly Gauthier, Photo Blog says
I love street photography, but I haven't done a lot of it. One more I brought my camera to work with the goal of snapping everything along the way. It was still dark and I wasn't confident about being able to take pictures on the fly with low light. As I was walking, I saw this image and took the shot, and when I looked at my screen, I almost deleted, but decided to just wait and see. When I uploaded it to my computer, I loved the picture. It's one of my favorites.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimberlygauthier/5325404849/
Thanks for sharing your story. Your image is gorgeous. I hope you framed it. It's truly beautiful.
Valerie says
The other day my toddler and I had a soft rainy day at home, so I pulled out the camera and took a few shots. I thought they were all quiet and pensive images until I took a closer look at the series. Leave it to a toddler to be quietly goofball!
http://journeyleaf.typepad.com/journeyleaf/2011/03/mirror-mirror.html
Lori says
Love this shot!!
Abby O. says
Our traditional bad day blues fighter is to go to the driving range and knock a couple golf balls into oblivion. Naturally I always take my camera. I had finished hitting my bucket before my Jim did. I was still in that gloomy mood and just felt so down in the dumps still. Jim pulled out the last ball and was setting it up on the tee when I snapped this shot. After I got home and took a look at it, I couldn't help but smile. It was so dark and gloomy in my head and heart I hadn't noticed the gorgeous sunset behind us, not the perfect angle of the spot light behind him. Somehow with the light hitting him just right, he almost looked heroic. It was like a triumphant moment peaking from the gloom.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigfoot-creative/4819628197/
kristin says
that is truly a dramatic image maile.
paris? sigh… ๐
Tamar says
I just adore this picture! I don't have anything to show at the moment as cannot think with my overtired brain, but just wanted to write to let you know that I love the pic! โฅ
Chantal says
Sometimes that happens, a photo is not always the best reminder of what took place, it can deceit.
georgia says
very cool!
i also, tried to capture a soft, light tranquil moment… my week 23 mark of my pregnancy and me all dressed up for a wedding. but when i tried to get the self portrait i wanted, i also ended up getting some ghostly shots… because the setting of the camera caused the shutter to stay open for a while {and i moved in that time}.
http://itsjusthowiseethings.blogspot.com/2011/02/ghost-of-chance-with-no-place-to-go-or.html
i ended up loving how they looked, so even they were "oops" shots, i still used them!
imperfect prose says
there is such beauty on this site… such grace… i am new here, but will be back. thank you for this space.
Denise says
hi malie, I often find that the spontaneous shots have something special in them. I adore the panorama of this…especially nice in BW. ๐ Denise
Digital Camera Junkie says
I have always wanted to go to Paris to capture some great images like these. You just made me jealous:-(