Love

Only two inches tall, this picture is a definitive favorite from my collection because of what I see in it: a woman in love. When we smile for a photograph far too often we concentrate too much on our smile. We try to consciously move our facial muscles into what we believe is the perfect position for a smile. Yet what normally results? A nice smile, but often something about it just seems unnatural. It just looks too posed. Some of the greatest pictures of people ever taken are of people in love with the photographer. Whether the person is male or female, it does not matter, when the person we love is taking our picture our smile is never forced, always perfect and has its own beautiful look to it. Just like the woman’s in this photograph. I think it is because we don’t think about the smile. It just happens. Sometimes the same thing happens when we are simply having outrageous amounts of fun. Perfect road trips or vacations can sometimes bring about these smiles too. While I’m not discounting pictures taken at times other than these I simply want to point out the special nature of a smile from someone in love. When it happens to you be sure to have your camera ready.

As you probably expected, I can’t just end the description of this picture with the smile. Although the smile is what “makes” this picture for me the photographer has also set the stage admirably. Once again the subject is lit with sunlight from the side (creating a sense of depth and three dimensionality), while also allowing her to look at her love without squinting (what would happen here if the sun were directly behind the photographer). The stone walls also contribute by adding texture, a balance of light and shadow, and lines crossing several planes. While the average photographer may be tempted to find a flat wall and place his or her subject in front of it (certainly a fine picture) perhaps an even better one is created by finding a place with more “levels.” Here the photographer has placed the subject on a wall with three levels of depth behind. Two vertical levels (on the far right and left) combine with the horizontal wall receding into the distance to give the scene a sense of depth and three dimensions. Yet even this great setting would still appear “flat” without the sunlight providing shadows on portions of the stone walls. Look at the wall on the far left without shadows. Now envision that brightness on all three walls. Can you see that if all three walls were just as bright (how it would appear if the sun were directly behind the photographer) the lack of shadows would make the walls appear as one wall, flat and without much depth?

So remember, look for scenes with “levels,” be sure the lighting of the scene gives you some shadows to bring the depth to life, and when you find yourself in love be sure to have your camera ready.