Remember the days when you were a child? Perhaps it was spring break or summer vacation; there were no cell phones back then, and video games were just beginning to gain popularity, there was nothing better to do but be outside. The days included riding bikes through the neighborhood, sledding down a grassy hillside on a makeshift cardboard sled and trading Garbage Pail Kids with the kids next door. Life was so simple, and little was thought about except play and fun. Oh, to be a child again…
Five months ago, wedding and fine arts photographer, Adrian McDonald was in his backyard in the Jamaican parish of Westmoreland, camera in hand, photographing plants and animals. The neighbor’s children were playing outside, and their laughter and joy permeated the air surrounding them. The sounds caught Adrian’s attention and with their parent’s permission, he snapped a few candids of the kids as they swung on the swing, played with their toys and chased each other, blissfully unaware of life’s troubles. Adrian, who describes himself as a “philosophical photographer who uses photography to bring awareness as well as enable the human condition,” knew that he wanted to begin this new photo series to help remind people to “live, laugh and love” as children do.
[REWIND: TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE THE BIGGEST IMPACT WHEN PHOTOGRAPHING CHILDREN]
Impervious of Adrian and his camera in hand (a sight they saw often), the children played as children do – with abandon and in utter joy. In an interview with Huffington Post, Adrian said, “They were completely oblivious to my existence, just in their own little world living as if life is nothing but utter bliss. There was something about it that filled my soul with an everlasting joy.”
Jumping, chasing, swinging, running and tinkering, only a handful of the shots were conceptualized, the rest, just precious moments that will someday be only a memory, saved in a handful of magical images.
You can see more of Adrian McDonald’s work on his website, Lexon Photography here. To see more from this series follow him on Facebook.
CREDITS: Photographs by Adrian McDonald have been used with permission for SLR Lounge. Do not copy, modify or re-post this article or images without express permission from SLR Lounge and the artist.
[Via Huffington Post/Bored Panda]
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Love the omni present light!
I love these…and since the ability to perform as much magic in post production is equal to that when shooting. I love these at face value.
It probably isnt solely her style, but im going to liken it to Elena Shumilova. I’d love to see what these images look like pre-processing. They are incredible, but im often left thinking a lot of what makes them so good is post processing.
Yess, good to see a yaadie featured here on SLR Lounge. Inspirational indeed.
GREAT IMAGES
Amazing to see this come from somebody of the same nationality
dreamy emotional.
breathtaking images, incredible shots
wonderful images, great work, thanks for sharing
These photos are amazing.
BUT
Damn I am so tired of this color/bokeh trend already. The ultra shallow DOF that includes the bokeh foreground. Like tiltshift was a trend for cityscapes for a while..
And it seems like everyone is using the exact same PS actions?
Excellent images
Wow this is some of the most inspiring photography I’ve seen in a while.
This is so inspiring. Thanks so much for sharing this amazing work with us! Inpiration rocks!
These are freakin’ fantastic!
These pictures are so Rockwell-esque
btw, that’s Norman, and not Ken :)
Sorry Ken!!
You know what Hanssie – this is just my uneducated opinion, but:
To me, there are three types of capture in photography.
1. is the one shot – capturing the moment just right. It’s a lucky shot in the sense that had it been any other split second in time it would not have been the same… bound for the gallery or magazine. the one shot you don’t touch up as it’d detract from it’s meaning.. this is not bad at all. not downing anyone for this type of capture…
2. The photograph that leaves you the feeling that it’s both the photographer and the subjects were there. The images tell a story for sure, yet lacks some depth, does not fully immerse you. Touching up may not give you any more sense of emotional depth.
3. Then, there are the photographs that do immerse you emotionally. You become a witness, like you were there, “a part of…” and that’s it… Touch up or not, does not matter to the emotion, the life, the participation. You get to share in that moment either by recall of what it was like to “be in” what is captured, reflecting your memories, or like I said, being a witness in the subjects joy, along side… like you were there…
What I am describing is what I might call the emotional depth of field – where / how the photographer lands “you.” The closer the photographer lands you in the moment of capture, the better the shot in my opinion… like a movie / book, emotionally connecting, “being, in it!!”
I cannot say whether or not here if touch up played a role in drawing you in, yet here, this so qualifies for a #3. I get so much the sense I’m there “In it!” somewhat getting drawn back to my childhood, connecting, and being a witness…
and so it goes..
beautifully described and said.
thank you
I love this breakout. Maybe you should write an article on this and submit it to Hanssie :)
thanks. I will consult w / hansie
WOW. Amazing!
These are just breathtaking! Wow.. Bravo!!!
Love your images.
Me too!!