Photo Critique (By Susan Welchman, Illustrations Editor)
The photographer and the subjects are all enjoying this moment. And as we were looking at the picture, we were having as much fun as they were because we were asking a lot of questions: How did they get one foot off the ground at the same time? Had they tried jumping before getting this shot? You wonder if they all leapt and let go of hands at the same time? You have a peak moment in all action shots, and this is it. And the composition is wonderful. The ponytail on the girl in the middle makes an exclamation point behind her. You see the ribs of all the skinny kids, and all of the children are grinning. There's a nice line with the biggest girl in the middle, forming a perfect pyramid, but the photo is still unpredictable. It makes you want to have the same vacation they're having.
Same as the first photo I commented on, I found this one on NatGeo. I forgot what the theme on this photo was, but I remember when I saw it for the first time, that it captured the theme exactly. Photos, as they say, are worth a thousand words. Whenever I see this photo, it does not only say a thousand words, it narrates an entire story.
This reminds me of my carefree childhood and summer memories. It is as if I share a heart with one of the kids that I feel the same way they felt when than photo was taken - happy. I read the review that came with the photo and I agree with one point that was made. I wonder, too, like the author of the review, how the kids were able to lift their feet off the surface at the same time. I also wonder how they were able to stay put, when normally, since I have tried that before with my cousins, each one of them would have been pulled straight into the water. However it was done, it must have worked since the shot turned out nicely.
When I saw this photo, I felt really happy inside, and I still feel the same way every time. Indeed, this is "the peak moment" in this action shot.
Photo taken from: National Geographic
