Photographic crackle

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

[flashforward]

http://outloud.wordpress.com/2007/10/06/leap-of-faith/

[Alex]

This post immediately brought to mind one of my own photos. (Have submitted it to the Shutter Sisters Pool also.) It was a 'happy accident' that I caught this shot and it sooo speaks to me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8162896@N05/2205249520/

[Bunny]

My 3 year old son and I set up the camera on the tripod and I showed him how to turn the lens to zoom and gave him the remote and let him go. He was so delighted at the fun of taking his own picture. I love this one in particular:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55899304@N00/2213507004/

[Shannon]

http://stacied.typepad.com/schmoopy/2008/01/playtime.html

It's not my picture, not even my blog. But this picture is absolutely amazing.

[Stacy]

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.

[Stacy]

Forgot to leave the link for my comment above ....


http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsmommy/2225455105/

[Tricia]

http://www.timestandstillphotography.com/images/fifeetbw923.jpg

because dirty bare feet and gap-toothed smiles SHOUT childhood summertime

[Michelle]

There's something about this photo that keeps making me go back to it...

It's not mine...

http://www.scrapinstyletv.com/portfolio/view_layout.php?layout_id=60445

[alli]

My son is much older now, but I still return to this photo to gaze on him in wonder. I love this picture so much.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/crumleydotorg/2225534703/

[Sarah M]

This is a photo I took a few years ago, I love the way this picture makes the view seem SO small and insignificant compared to the world.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8164355

[Julie Corbett]

Just found your fantastic site today. I get inspired just looking around here. This will definitely be a daily read for me from now on.

[Stacy]

This is one of my favorite pictures that I took last year. It draws me in everytime I look at it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kraft/832211799/

[Laurie]

I like to look at this one every so often because I love the freedom he is experiencing by making that jump!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lsnjd/2087450709/in/set-72157603376950894/

[simply]

http://bp3.blogger.com/_A1Xbjk4uEks/R4uaAjgMRzI/AAAAAAAACAw/C9QPoh-sz7o/s1600-h/puddle+max.jpg

http://bp0.blogger.com/_A1Xbjk4uEks/R4uaAzgMR0I/AAAAAAAACA4/0nlPhf_Pbms/s1600-h/puddle+max2.jpg

http://bp0.blogger.com/_A1Xbjk4uEks/R4uaAzgMR1I/AAAAAAAACBA/T6ZmZuNG0zI/s1600-h/puddle+max3.jpg

http://bp1.blogger.com/_A1Xbjk4uEks/R4uaBDgMR2I/AAAAAAAACBI/UGOQJ2FYSUU/s1600-h/puddle+max7.jpg

ok I couldn't do it in just one pic.

"max and the puddles"
~simply~

[Kate]

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

[Mrs. Eaves/M-O Photo]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23151594@N07/2226690580/

I love the contrast in this photo - the motion blur of his hands, the crisp stillness of his eyes.

[Ashley]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashleydano/480649150/in/photostream/

this site is addictive!

[Staci Boden]

Thank you, I'm really enjoying your invitation to dive deeper into photography. My dad took this but it's a favorite--my daughter learning monkeybars, many years ago.

http://practicalspirit.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/dscn0245a.jpg

[Mandy]

I really love Alissa's silhouette shots that I see in flickr. They're all so full of magic. They always portray joy & the wonderment of children's explorations of the world. http://www.flickr.com/photos/alissaspics/sets/72157602019529043/

[Leigh lear]

I love this little smile I caught of this newborn in dad's hands.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35959139@N00/1253785537/

[jenijen]

this is a photo taken by Jen Downer (http://www.shesawthings.com/) of my brother and his wife on their wedding day.

if love = magic, and i think it does, this has excellent crackle

[jenijen]

eep! the link for that one
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shesawthings/1261657038/in/set-72157602327141983/

[maile]

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

[Dana]

I took several of my daughter looking at the camera, yet this is my favorite. I love how the sunlight washes over her hair and face.

http://ijustlovebeingme.blogspot.com/2008/01/just-heavenly.html

[corey]

My son makes a bee-line (crawling) for the cat every chance he gets...here I'm trying to take a photo with one hand while keeping him from pulling the cat's tail with the other. It's not a great photo, but I can feel how badly he wants to touch the cat when I look at it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/giggletwig/2227179735/

[Summer]

Kate you are inspiring me to fight past my point and shoot frustration, thank you.
Sometimes it seems that blurred moment you capture brings everything into focus.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sufferingsummer/2227256551/

[Kate]

Awesome, summer! That's great. Very cool shot.

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

[Anna]

Oh, how I am loving Shutter Sisters!
I just posted this photo of these laughing girls, and I feel the magic, for sure.
(Last photo on the page, you'll need to scroll down to the bottom.)

http://hankandwillie.wordpress.com/2008/01/28/baby-faces/

[Heather]

These flower fields were so vividly seen, smelled, felt, and heard (but we didn't try tasting them so I can't claim a totally multisensory experience). Just looking at the pictures takes me back to that day.

http://youhavemyword.blogspot.com/2008/01/photographic-crackle.html

[Call Me Karate]

I absolutely love this picture - It's not mine, just one of my favorites on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aarynb/1562343013/