Spotted. out the window

Spotted. is our ongoing section where we feature different photographs from Beyond Snapshots readers and tell you why we love the images.  While criticism has a valid place in teaching, we want to show you what works rather than what doesn’t.  Two images caught our eye recently in the Beyond Snapshots flickr group.  We would like to share them and some thoughts with you below:

While similar in that both of these shots use window for back light and a faceless subject for dramatic portraits, they set quite different moods with their small differences.
The situations behind the making of these images were as different as their resulting moods.

First is this shot by Sheila Lachney

The choice of black and white really makes this photograph timeless.
The light as a gradient from bright to dark draws the eye down to the subject.
The boy is so small (well placed in the bottom 3rd of the photograph) and his body language suggests some interest in what is out the window.
The choice to leave the handle of the door in the frame is a nice touch and leaves me wondering why the boy is not going out and merely watching from inside.  It also adds scale.
Small details like the corners pointing back into the frame keep the focus on the boy.
Repeating lines with the fence, shadows, drapes and door frame are well isolated in black and white and make the organic shape of the boy stand out.

Simple, gorgeous and haunting.

Canon Rebel XT with a 28 mm lens.

ISO 400
f/2.8
1/160 sec.

I had sent my son, Elliot,  to time out and he fussed for a
short time then was all the sudden very quiet.  I came in
from the kitchen and saw him behind the curtain, playing
with something on the floor.  I tip toed to my camera and
snapped this one real quick.  He never knew I even took it. (:

Now this shot by Charlie Jones

The spots of color in the softly shaped paper hearts is a bright juxtaposition to the cold and stark branches out the window.
The choice of cool tones in processing reflects the cold winter weather yet with a warm glow by her feet to keep the image itself from feeling cold.
The very straight line leads the eye down through the hearts to the feet.
TTV texture over top adds some visual interest and goes well with the surreal nature of the shot.
The little details of the propped up feet, curled toes and chipped nail polish tells the viewer a lot about the subject without ever seeing a face.

Bright, quiet and wintery.

Canon Digital Rebel XTi with
the 18-55mm kit lens.  Really really basic equipment.  I
overexposed some because I wanted to see her feet rather
than just a silhouette of them.
It was snowing these big huge feather snow flakes (in
February, hence the Valentine’s paper hearts) and Chloe
layed down on a pillow in front of the window to watch.  I
was going to take some shots of the snow but ended up beside
her on the floor.  She puts her feet on everything so of
course she stuck them up on the window.
I wanted it to really look like winter so the tones are
cool.  I think the use of the ttv layer makes it feel small
and intimate…just like the moment felt.