Roger is hosting a weekly Creative Photography contest and against all my inner demons and child like apprehensions I decided to join in.
What is it about the word contest that can set a person to thinking nothing they ever did was any good?
Note to self: Start thinking of every meal as a contest – lose 30 pounds by being too intimidated to eat.
Anyway …
I never take a good photo if I set out to. I love what I see in my mind’s eye I just don’t always capture it. That’s why I take photos all the time – everywhere, everything. I love discovering them later.
After traveling through my archives muttering like Forest Gump – “Creative is as creative does” I found this shot.
I took it last year at my niece’s Sweet 16 party. Her “theme” was Disco 70s and the dance floor was packed all night. I settled in by the DJ (he was adorable!) and shot and shot and shot the night away. The lighting was terrible – dark purple and strobe lights and disco balls – OH MY! Virtually nothing came out but I played around with enhancement and balance and cropped my little heart out.
When my niece and her friends saw this one the reactions were:
“trippy”
“awesome”
“hot”
“looks like something MTV used to show” – ahhh yes – remember when MTV actually had something to do with music and dance?
“wow, retro – just like the old days” – hilarious kid! Hope I’m around when he’s bald.
So. Well. Whoop There It Is.
Hope you check out all the other entries.
61 comments:
Dianne What a awesome submission for Creative Photography, thank you for joining the dance!
That's an awesome shot. I love the colors and motion. I love the feel of it. Makes me wanna dance.
Nice capture..especially the lights :)
Great shot!
The thing I love about my little digital camera the most is that I can take 100 photos and keep only 2 of them and it not cost me anything but the time it took to take them.
Really intriguing shot! :) Thanks for visiting my entry, too. :)
Great shot. I absolutely love it.
My camera is worthless to me right now. It's old and now the viewer is either shot or I accidentally touched a setting that makes it not work. I haven't taken any decent photos, not even snapshots in weeks now.
I'm hoping someone remembers to give me a new one for my birthday. Otherwise, I'm going to get one for meself!
Peace,
Pagan
Very cool photo. Looks like something you'd see in the New York Times. I love your writing. I always feel better after I read your posts. Glad you talked your demons aside and entered the contest. Excellent work both on the entry and the psyche.
.... the New York Times Sunday Magazine. I haven't seen the NYT in a long time.... Anyway, I really like the photo. Can't seem to leave just one post here lately. Always have to come back and correct. Talk about inner demons...
Great shot Di. The motion blur on either side of her adds emphasis to your niece. Sweet. Cheers!!
I am like you a spontanous photographer, I shoot and shoot all the time without thinking, just what I see and look at the results later and sometimes I am lucky and it's good. Yours is ! without any doubt there is so much athmosphere in this photo !
Very cool effect. The blurred/distortions surounding your neice really brings out her as the focal point to the shot.
roger - thanks! this is a fun idea, I really enjoy sharing my shots.
etk - thanks kid, my niece and her "crew" are non-stop motion.
napaboaniya - I really appreciate you commenting on the light, it was such a challenge.
jay - thanks :) I feel the same about digital plus how easy it is to share but I still enjoy film too. I keep looking for a camera that is the best of both that I can also afford.
lori - thanks! I loved your shot. that's one of the best things about projects like this, the new people you discover.
pagan - glad you like the shot. you have to drop lots of hints, that's how I finally got my laptop ;)
raven - the NYT!! wow, thanks. and I love your multiple comments Raven, screw the demons, tell them to call my demons.
thanks matt-man - she is the center of my life, such a sweet gorgeous child.
gattina - it's the best way to do it. I'm so thrilled you felt the atmosphere. thanks!!
jeff b - thanks!! it was truly her night to shine :)
Good lord there aren't that many people in my political party(the gaddabouts) and to have them doing a RETRO disco party for a 16 year old!
Hell disco never died (in the hearts of so many) so how can it be retro?
Did the kid get a job or is she banking on you winning the contest and propelling her to Parisian Hiltoninan fame and fortune?
The possibilities are endless...the young man will learn that bald isn't bad...
Dianne, I really love your picture. It must have been a fun party, and I'll bet you enjoyed it as much as she did.
You also inspired me to go hunting through old pictures, and enter the contest. Now I have to start getting creative if I want to enter again. Thanks for the push.
I dig this picture! Blow it up and frame it, she's beautiful!
mark - once they called it 70s in the year 2007 all the kids decided that Disco = Dinosaur
I think bald is sexy Mark - I just wanna be around to tell this kid he's old LOL
bobbie - I'm so glad you participated! your photos are wonderful!!
leighann - thanks!! she is a beauty - inside and out - she's 17 now and still give me big bear hugs.
I feel like I've smoked a little weed and jumped out on the dance floor with your niece in this picture. Very 70's!
That's one hell of a 16th birthday party. I think I had a bonfire in my backyard. *sigh* That's a midwest sweet sixteen for you.
That shot definitely captures the mood of the party and all its motion and trippiness! I love it!
Sometimes the best shots are the ones caught by accident. I agree with Jay-digital makes for better photographers as we can evaluate easily and without expense. Ian has been using his Fisher Price digital camera and even he is getting some better shots simply by seeing what the picture looks like. It's cool!
Ooh, the days of MTV when it was all videos! I watched the first day in 1981 (Video Killed the Radio Star!) and watched it for much of my adolescence. I miss those awesome 80's videos!
I think you got yourself a winner. It's groovy! (and I love disco ;o)
Good luck!
p/s I decided to join in at very last minute.
Not only do you remember when MTV showed music videos, but you actually wrote the phrase "whoop there it is." *snort* I, too, remember those times.
And it's an awesome photo.
Wow...sooome party! Great pics...I would have been plunked down next to the DJ, same as you...watching the kiddos have fun.
A fantastic shot - it could be used in an advert for a disco!
knight - the Sweet 16 parties are out of control! especially in Brooklyn - the land of the bold and gaudy ;)
at least my niece said thank you to everyone 100 times.
snoopmurph - I love your entry!! and I love the idea that Ian is developing his eye. have you posted any of his shots?
inanhoe - thanks!! I love the word groovy.
tranny head - I LOVE that you got my "Whoop there it is" - you're the best!!
shelly - they were adorable and oh so funny. trying to be cool and sexy and saying the dumbest things. actually the kids were better behaved than most of the parents LOL
thanks akelamalu!! one of the people at the party sent the photo to the club where we held the party. they put it up!!
Being able to edit photos makes a world of difference. You can make them more true to your experience of the moment that way.
That is indeed a trippy image! :-)
Very nice shot. love the light effect!
Creative Photography
Loved your post.
Thanks for visting my new blog and saying that it's okay to say Fuck....
sparkling red - that's a great way to describe the benefit of editing. thanks :)
ladynred - thanks!!
you're welcome charlene LOL
not only is it alright it is sometimes necessary ;)
Great color study and capturing the movement of the moment.
Makes me want to "do the hustle" LOL!
That is good - you've really captured the atmosphere there!
Looking really seventies and really cool. I love it!!
What a great photo! Very cool!!!
thanks lois - I remember the hustle music vividly!!
jackie - thanks!! it was a great atmosphere
cg - means a lot coming from you - you know how much I love your work
thanks tammy!!
Hey Dianne!
Your photo has me "feeling groovy", I just want to break out and start dancing! lol. I love this entry, you did one outstanding job with your special editing effects!
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
:-) Happy CP Day!
Hugs,
Kimmie
That is a fantastic photo! I know exactly how you feel. I've just discovered photography and cannot stop taking pictures now. I don't know what's come over me, but I love it.
You did a great job on this one.
That is a fantastic photo! I know exactly how you feel. I've just discovered photography and cannot stop taking pictures now. I don't know what's come over me, but I love it.
You did a great job on this one.
kimmie - a second groovy reference! I'm bringing groovy back, take that Justin Timberwhatever
thanks for complimenting my editing, I was nervous about it at first!
tangobaby - photography makes you SEE things in such new and wonderful ways
enjoy and keep sharing photos!
thanks for coming by :)
What a great picture! Your niece is beautiful (I'm sure you never get sick of hearing it) and for some reason the look on her face, the stillness amid the motion captures something really special about turning 16. It has a feel like she is at a fork in the road, much like the way 16 feels. Love it! Give Si and Mi a snuggle from Auntie Babe!
Yay! Looks like a blast. Sweet 16...good luck on your entry.
magnetbabe - she is a beauty thanks :)
and she's a sweet, loving person too. I love her stillness in the photo, thanks again Auntie Babe - Mi/Si/Di trio send hugs
chuck - thanks!! your entry was amazing!!
Boy of that doesn't conjur up memories.....wooohoooo...{{I'm humming 'Disco Duck' }}} lol
you enhance well darlin'....
I like the motion in your photo. Nice!
Lots of motion and emotion! Wonderful.
I agree with the others who have commented. That photo is a winner!
tt - Disco Duck!! a classic
fermicat - thanks!! I've been lovin' all your photo creations.
willthink4wine - that makes me smile, thanks!!
thanks diane!! I did get an honorable mention along with some of the other incredible entries.
EVERYBODY - go by the Creative Photography link in the post and check out the winner!
It is an incredible nature shot that will make you smile and smile!!
And consider entering next week (RAVEN!) - cause so many of you truly have to know how great your shots are!
Damn...right now, I'm having a flasback and can hear Donna Summers singing Last Dance, as the club is closing for the evening!
AWESOME shot Dianne. It really captures the TRUE "energy" of the time. I can actually feel it!
Thanks for sharing this. And I'll definately check it out Rogers link!
And remember...."So let's dance...the last dance...tooonight!"
ron - I love Donna and I usually closed the clubs in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Home of Saturday Night Fever. Where the wind in from the bay carried the lovely scent of Aramis and polyester!!
Definitely check out Roger's site! It's a great place.
Spotted piccy the other night but was too tired to say it was a fantastic one :-)
Shows off the main person really well, with the movement-blurry background showing that there was a great party going on :-)
thanks a lot sleepypete!! appreciate that. now get some rest :)
Great shot. Good luck with the contest.
Blessings,
Mary
"Get some rest" - muahaha - I hear and obey oh Great One. Just ... one ... more ... track ... from iTunes (Who's That Girl from Eurythmics just started)
thank you Mary!
oh sleepypete - great song!! alright one more track but then no more excuses or I may need to spank you!
Great pic! It does have a trippy feel to it, kind of like beng in the thick of it and having had a couple of drinks so you think you're an amazing dancer! LOL!
This is so cool, Dianne! And to thin that I mentioned Peggy Lipton from "The Mod Squad" on my post. What a trip!!!!! :D
LOL bobkat! I've done that
I love peggy lipton Michael.
Wowza...that's an incredible photo! I love it...the lighting, the blur, how glowy she looks. Can I have a round with your inner demons? They don't know nuttin', you're amazing :)
Jo - Wowza!? You're so adorable!
I would love for you to be my demon wrangler.
your niece and her friends are right: this is trippy-cool...and they forgot Super :-)
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