Yellow Crack

Photo by Phil Gianatasio

I'm kinda sorry I had that idea about "Yellow" for the Baker's Dozen...ever since then, I've been seeing yellow out in the world, and of course whenever I see it I somehow have to take a picture of it. It feels just slightly like addict behavior.

Like getting a pop song stuck in your head.

By the way, the Yellow deadline is today! I've gotten lots of really cool stuff and it will be a great feature with lots of interesting variety.

The next Baker's Dozen subject will be: "Grandkids."

Mainly, your own. (This is a way of focusing our attention on the work of our readers who have, shall we say, attained a certain level of maturity.) Don't send 'em yet, I'm just giving you advance notice.

 

Don't        Send        Them        Yet

 

So as not to close the door on people who do not yet have grandkids (yo!), you can submit an inter-generational portrait of grandparent/s with grandchild/-children, but only if they're relatives or family friends and you know them and you know they are in fact related—no fair showing pictures of random oldsters with kids who are strangers to you and who you're just assuming are related. You're on your honor here.

But mainly, just pictures of your own grandkids.

The first requirement is that the picture be a good picture...i.e., one that will delight/impress/interest other photographers or meet with their approval. Some of the "Yellow" submissions are yellow, all right, but otherwise they're snapshots, which doesn't quite fit the bill. Even though they're yellow.

And consider being creative about the concept...for instance, a then and now, or a picture of a kid paired with a picture of a grandparent when the grandparent was the same age. Or...something like that, but that you think up. Anyway, points for creativity with the concept. But it's not required.

Again, please do not send any grandkid pics yet. I ain't ready. I'll tell you when.

Yellow. Gaaah!

Mike

UPDATE or P.S. or whatever: Woke up from a catnap on the couch today, looked up at the ceiling fan...

See what I mean? Yellow is everywhere now....

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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Dave Stewart: "I'm often trying to keep yellow out of the frame, which isn't always easy...."

Mike replies: Ha! Yes, I can see how that would be difficult for you.

Comments

[alex-virt]

Inspired by your posts, Mike, I decided to make a Yellow Week in my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alex.gridenko It ended last Sunday. The Green Week is on now. Other colour weeks will follow :)

[David Dyer-Bennet]

I gotta admit, even after all these years the title "yellow crack" had me wondering briefly what new film Kodak had released.

[Chris Kern]

The first requirement is that the picture be a good picture...i.e., one that will delight/impress/interest other photographers or meet with their approval. Some of the "Yellow" submissions are yellow, all right, but otherwise they're snapshots . . .

If you thought you received a lot of snapshots as “Yellow” submissions, I can only imagine what the haul from a “Grandkids” solicitation will be.

I just checked: I currently have 1506 photographs of my grandchildren in my Lightroom catalog. Almost all of them are technically competent. Most of them make the kids appear good-looking. Some of the poses when they were very young are extremely cute.

But I can count on the index finger of one hand the number of images that might “delight/impress/interest other photographers.”

I’m not comparing my pictures to the output of the celebrated portrait shooters—Arbus, Halsman, Karsh, Leibovits, Avedon, et. al. (I’m sure everybody has their own favorites)—but navigate over to Kirk Tuck’s site and see what a current working pro can coax out of a subject. Then take another look at your own work.

I think making portraits of people, whether informal or formal, is probably the most demanding genre of the craft. Because creating a really excellent portrait is not entirely within the control of the photographer. The subject is an active participant. And the interaction between the subject and the photographer often makes the difference between a direct hit and a near miss.

So good luck with your “Grandkids” project, Mike. I’ll wait for your call for submissions to decide whether I have the temerity to participate.

[RubyT]

I'm so glad Chris got here first--he expressed my reaction to every picture of my grandkids so eloquently, especially the part where I have technically competent photos of very cute children. At this point, though, nothing I would consider submitting.