Shutter Sisters

Photographic crackle

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Seth Godin talks of the soul expansion to be found by “leaning into” problems. To that I’ll add—as taught to me by my three-year-old—world expansion is to be found by leaning into what’s new and unfamiliar.

This is the dynamic I see here, in this near-disregarded frame: the crackling in the air between Evan and a talking parrot as Justin attempts to peel him away for the next adventure on our City Day list.

It’s closer to rule-of-nines than rule-of-thirds, I scoff, the subject almost completely off the canvas. Shoot.

But it speaks to me, because it’s… just Evan, perfect Evan.

To me, the unconventional eye has the best luck capturing how humans knock around in the world and bump up against one another. Like looking at a famed painted portrait and seeing a person true-to-form, fine enough, versus looking at an abstract painting and almost hearing the sound of its cadence.

As photographers this crackling surprises us, wills us to notice it. We can’t plan it, force it. This palpable push-pull force allows itself to be evidenced like the fuzzy outlines of some glowing aura in the background of an old tintype. It makes an appearance when it chooses, an unexpected, delightful guest.

StefanieRenee caught the leap of faith that is a second pregnancy, the imminent sharing of flesh and love. Call Me Karate shares a little boy and all his unspoken questions. Straightforward enough, that shot—but it vibrates. Shama-lama Mama shows us the carrying of a child, the walking through life burdened, compared to before—and basks in it. Denim caught my eye tonight with her phenomenal starkness, like a dream. It should be a relatively ordinary shot (person standing in field), but that person is saying something to me. I’m still trying to figure out what it is I’m hearing…

How about you? In the comments, link to shots that speak to you—yours or someone else’s—the quirky, the nearly-deleted, the inexplicably extraordinary, the happy accidents. Show us magic, crackling.

Comments

  5. I took this picture yesterday at my parent’s house. We were there for my dad’s birthday. I meant to get a picture of my daughter and her grandma, but I snapped it too close. I still like it though. You can see my mom’s hands under my daughter’s. It speaks to me because they have such a special relationship.

  15. I’m having fun looking through all these. All of you either have super-quick trigger fingers, or fantastic luck! Great shots!

  23. "world expansion is to be found by leaning into what’s new and unfamiliar"…that resonates with me SO MUCH, especially lately. Beautiful shot.

  27. Awesome, summer! That’s great. Very cool shot.

    And thanks again everyone – I loved seeing all your happy accidents.