Superhero Photo Challenge: just bodies

 Sometimes you don't need to see their faces to take an evocative portrait. This photo is from a wedding I shot recently. The grooms are there, standing strong on the top of a bluff.... I love seeing the wind flap their jackets around and how they seem to match each other crease for crease. Somehow you can see the love passing between them in the simple embrace of their hands.

This is the superhero photo challenge this week. Let's see what portraits can communicate without faces. Here are a few shots for inspiration.

Comments

[Mama DB]

There be fairies about!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23829646@N02/2712283613/

[Chris]

I just love that photo. It says so much and it's so beautiful. Thanks for making me smile!
http://flickr.com/photos/jeroldssis/2767409736/?eOrig=2767405700

[Bridge]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3069/2573860821_7a4ac6463f_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3007/2574678604_4970dd3cd4_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2374/2356932510_5970cdfb39_o.jpg

they say a lot!

[summer]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sufferingsummer/2218264923/in/photostream/

so true.

[Christie]

I took some of faces in this series and they just didn't say as much as this one did.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/enckline/2767461212/

[anna]

Great shot!

This challenge made me think of a shot I took awhile ago of my husband and son on the beach. It is one of my favourites.

http://vancouverhometown.blogspot.com/2008/08/just-bodies.html

[laura - dolcepics]

That is one FABULOUS photo Andrea! It is just superb!

Here's one "faceless" portrait from me:
http://www.dolcepics.com/dailypic/getting-your-feet-wet/

[vivienne]

i just took this tonight...and was thinking of your wedding portrait of these lovely fellows. the way my friend was holding his dog...i couldn't resist a 'just bodies' shot

http://www.flickr.com/photos/missvivienne/2766711081/

[sperlygirl]

on the run...my life with my sweet toddler! :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/78865561@N00/2766741501/

[erin.darcy]

The first time I even considered trying a shot with cutting the persons face off, intentionally-was after seeing a superhero challenge about self portraits-it was of Andrea and her husband, and just happened to be their feet-camera set on the ground and clicked. it was perfect..
Since then-I'm in love..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/edarcy/2758375352/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/edarcy/2491568443/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/edarcy/2704293397/

[Marcie]

Here's one of mine:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=51

[giggletwig (corey)]

Love your photo!

Here's a maternity photo I took for a friend. I just love the way her husband's hands touch her belly, and her hands touch his. I could just feel the love.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/giggletwig/2626439213/

[Sharon]

These are my favorite kinds of portraits. Love the challenge!

http://flickr.com/photos/queenofsheba/2695730095/

[ePi.Longo]

Nice challenge!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/longo/2705546413/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/longo/2737941135/

[MelodyA.]

I did this one faceless last week and it's one of my favorites ever.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hipmommatexas/2740420330/

[Stephanie]

I just posted this faceless entry a few days ago...for some it might be a repeat:
http://slsmithphotgraphy.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/08/magic.html

[lora]

awesome idea. i love it and look forward to keeping it in mind all week while i'm photographing. =)
I made a little set featuring several of these kinds of shots.
I LOVE the one you've posted. I could just tell they were in love before i even read your message. =)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28987938@N00/sets/72157606758718350/

[Jess]

This is how I spend my days
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesspunky/2767186197/

[abbey]

this is one of my favorite "just bodies"!!!
http://www.photoblog.com/abbeyh13/

I love your photo... very strong!!!

[Andie]

Blue dress, red boots.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/artsynaturegirl/2744755897/

[Kathleen]

You see? This is what I simply love about this community! What a superb idea, and all the posts are so stunning. The ideas here always make me look at my photos in a different way. Here are two that I cropped this morning to show "just bodies." I kinda like 'em!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ko2008/2768055204/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ko2008/2767207143/

[renee @ FIMBY]

Hey I can play! I just took these photos of belly dancers at a festival yesterday. I almost think photos of belly dancers are better "headless".

http://fimby.tougas.net/belly_dancer_photo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28442274@N07/2767173996/

[Angie]

What a great challenge.

I find myself photographing this a lot:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thethiers/2714834007/in/photostream/

And while this one's nothing new, I love the contrast with her shirt:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thethiers/2700813758/

And my favorite...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thethiers/2510521572/

[claudia]

I never thought I'd see myself shooting like this... now I love it!
http://flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/2633164226/in/set-72157603707815517/
http://flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/2609895232/in/set-72157603707815517/
http://flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/2660340920/in/set-72157603707815517/

[SH]

What a beautiful photograph! These are from my old flickr account:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gearheadmama/2155861569/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gearheadmama/1296422263/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gearheadmama/758320640/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gearheadmama/436752621/

[Melanie]

I love the language in bodies - obviously, since I seem to take a lot of photos like this (I had a hard time narrowing it down). :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/apartmentlife/1858048230
http://www.flickr.com/photos/apartmentlife/2631979574
http://www.flickr.com/photos/apartmentlife/2323295380

[Jess]

I already posted, but I found this one of my kids while I was cleaning out our photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesspunky/2767695309/

[Rachel Haynes]

I am in awe of that photo and am feeling quite inspired by it. I can't wait to try making some portraits like it!!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2004/2202289921_7c4645a4b6_o.jpg

[kristin]

i like chopping heads. lol...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/2761956023/

[tonya]

I love faceless pics - yes, they say SO much! I have several on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=faceless&w=62884569%40N00

[Jodyangel]

Hmmm I'm so happy you are sharing your craftyness with your camera with us. I would not of thought of using this technique...but I gosh darn Love it! Here are a few from me. =) Thank YOU!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13732519@N07/2769716954/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13732519@N07/2768882619/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13732519@N07/2768874085/

[Kim M]

I love shooting this way, as I can sometimes override any sour expressions.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/onwaterstreet/2563824392/

[Michelle]

such great images.

I've never posted before...hope it's okay that I'm jumping in...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/michelle_abbott/1491002876/in/set-72157600943949115/

[Jodi Renshaw]

Just tried one today:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3177/2770175268_98b3928fe2_b.jpg

Looking forward to more. Thanks!

[Naomi]

Does a chin and mouth count?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomesthenome/2107675145/in/set-72157605187632342/
Or an ear?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomesthenome/2710412386/in/set-72157605187632342/

You can't even see the dog's face in this one.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomesthenome/2191873032/in/set-72157605188568000/

[brandi]

I adore the implied emotion in this photo I took at an engagement shoot:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandelionseeds/2684220098/

I like everything that is going on in this pic:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandelionseeds/2766180131/

[Traci]

oooo ... i love that photo!!! :)

my own guitar hero ...
http://flickr.com/photos/tracimeyer/2721444594/

[Lana]

This is one of my favorite pictures. some of my family laughed at me when they saw it, but the bride (my sister) totally got it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/96916924@N00/2740628182/in/set-72157606755251543/

[tangobaby]

I LOVE your photo, Andrea! Just love it to bits.

I discovered a while ago the beauty of a portrait without a head (I thought it was just me and that it was a little odd).

So I am glad to see I'm not alone.

This is one of my favorites:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tangobaby2/2578507075/in/set-72157605619267486/

[elizabeth]

that is a great shot! I love how the color of the grasses seems to fit the color of their suits.

[margie]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/margela/2773854669/

pouty boy on the steps

[Janet]

This is one of my all time favorite photos of my baby girl and it doesn't even have her beautiful face in it! She was 6 months old.

http://janetmanuelphotography.squarespace.com/blog/2008/7/7/6-months-and-counting.html

[Martha]

Dancing feet can tell a great story:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14756941@N08/2683890177/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14756941@N08/2690297875/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14756941@N08/2683890207/

[Sheri]

Such a beautiful photo and great challenge.

Here's mine: http://todayispretty.wordpress.com/2008/08/16/big/

[Angela]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ang_loves_jesus/2709643331/
I LOVE doing waist down shots...I have a few from my last wedding but have not posted them to flickr yet!
Those are all so great too!

[Heather Espana]

Yay for no heads! :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/espanaphotography/2417853392/in/set-72157604532776710/

[Blazey]

I really like doing "body shots".

http://flickr.com/photos/blazeyphotography/2757419761/
http://flickr.com/photos/blazeyphotography/2720176499/
http://flickr.com/photos/blazeyphotography/2647617164/
http://flickr.com/photos/blazeyphotography/2646782553/
http://flickr.com/photos/blazeyphotography/2669943434/

[Nicole]

I'm obviously no professional...but here's my first attempt. It was a fun challenge! I'll have to try some more!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikitiger/2775361779/

[NatureMama]

In this picture, my 3-year-old was holding his baby brother's foot for me to take a picture of it. The picture was an oops - I was snapping it over my shoulder while nursing baby brother, trying to get the foot. What I got instead was a perfect portrait of concentration and tenderness.

http://flickr.com/photos/naturemama/2722069869/in/set-72157605948350432/

[Rachel Haynes]

My attempt at meeting the challenge. LOVE the idea and that photo way up top is quite amazing.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3197/2783699078_d72d3b6076_o.jpg