Brad Pitt and I share the exact same birthday (month, day, year) outside of that, our stories diverge considerably. Mr. Pitt went on to become an internationally famous superstar, while I have led the much more interesting life of the starving artist. I come from a long line of storytellers (whose gift for gab stretches back through the mists of time to our native Ireland) and professional malcontents who were seemingly born to create something in the arts, be it music, writing, sculpture, painting, or photography. I started writing at age 12 with a screenplay with my cousin Ryan about a planet where everyone looked like Elton John entitled "Don't I Know You?" More screenplays followed, several of which received epic Super-8 production with budgets that sometimes ran up to $10. A few even had sound!  More writing followed: songs, poems, short stories, numerous unfinished novels, etc.. Somewhere in there was an attempt at being a rock star...
Still living at home, at age 22, my father dropped an elderly Nikromatt 35-mm film camera into my lap, in the hopes that I would "make a go of it" as a photojournalist. That didn't happen, but I did develop an abiding love of photography that along with writing and archival work have been among the chief passions of my life. When it comes to my photography, I try to be as creative as possible while at the same time striving for a documentary/archival quality. The only set rules I adhere to, when it comes to making pictures are: 1.) Try not to make the picture blurry, and 2.) Don't drop the camera.
Comments (12)
wonderworld
Really neat photo!!!
elfin14doaks
Awesome, maybe he was thinking hmmm a new pet. Nice capture.
brewgirlca
Good luck kid! Those birds will put just enough energy into moving to stay one step ahead of him.
auntietk
My grandfather had this game thing ... a wooden paddle with a weight and strings hanging underneath ... and all around the top of the paddle were these chickens that bobbed up and down as you swung the ball around under the paddle. The kid is the ball, and there's a totally clear spot around him. Now aren't you glad I remembered that? LOL!
Meisiekind
Good luck for that kid!!! LOL... Super cool pic of the youngster trying to capture a feathery friend!!!
durleybeachbum
Love Tara's comment! I really like how you caught the pigeon on full escape mode! But they never take off till it's absolutely essential, a life lesson there!
jmb007
bonne photo
MrsLubner
I didn't know the pigeons in Chicago were involved in Gay Rights... LOL Yeah, we get a lot of demonstrators here too but I don't see anything heated come out of it...maybe a shouting match from time to time but although there is always hatred, there is also the knowledge that we all have to figure out a way to get along. :-) I love the feel of this shot. The child, innocent - the pigeons - so discriminated against but gathering together for strength and protection. Great shot.
flavia49
excellent capture!!
beachzz
Guess even the pigeons felt a need to take part, and the little kid's just doing what little kids do everywhere--entertaining him (or her) self as best he/she can (gotta be really PC here, given the nature of the demonstration, don't want to offend anyone!!)
sandra46
the child is trying to get one as a pet, i suppose! a wonderful shot, full of life and joy!
Chipka
Pigeons are such amusing creatures! It's no wonder that this kid wants to catch one--hopefully he didn't, as they tend to poop when frightened, and nothing frightens them more than being grabbed by a big, strange-smelling mammal with surprisingly little hair. Pigeons always provide for intriguing compositions when they're strutting around, cooing, and strutting around even more. They strut quite well, as if their necks are connected directly to their leg muscles. But enough about that. I'm finally getting around to commenting on this (head colds are obnoxious!) and I should do more than ramble on about strutting, pooping pigeons. I like the way they're all scattered, the way the eye just wanders around this photograph. The largely monochrome aspects of this picture are really stark, and the little bits of color (the yellow cones, and even the pinkish pigeon legs on one or two of the pigeons) provide excellent surprises. This image rocks.