Scanned Negative - Maisy Inside a Tree Trunk

[Paul Lange]

There is something about this one that seems wrong in some way. It has all the nice elements: a smiling child, inside a split tree trunk (a bit of fun) but still, I find something a bit sinister about it. Is it just me?

It has a few defects that look like scratches, I dropped the wet neg onto a sheet of paper and some of the fibres stuck to it .

 

[Brian Moore]

I don't see anything sinister, Paul. My first thought, before reading your explanation, was what a cool shot. After reading I looked closer for the sinister part. What I focused on then was an odd edge to the inner portions of the trees. Its as if I'm looking at two foties, with the little girl portion having been torn out of another picture and set down, or superimposed on the tree fotie. That thought makes it seem a bit weird. However, I'm looking for oddness to support your sinister thesis, so perhaps I'm making too much of it.

 

[Paul Lange]

Maybe it is just me. I also know what you mean about the image looking like it is a composite. I used a shallow DOF which bought the edge of the split in the trunk is sharp focus and the rest of the trunk blurred.

 

[Pete Askew]

No, I see a slightly sinister edge to it too Paul. I think it is her expression and the fact that she is eluding you behind the crack in the tree. I conjures up The Wicker Man to me for some reason.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Sinister it is - Midwich Cuckoos scary

 

[Paul Lange]

I thought there was a flip side to the image but wondered if I was just leading myself up a dark alley. For me there were a few connotations of things just like Village of the Dammed (Midwich Cuckoos) and Children of the Corn etc.

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Haha!! 'Children of the Corn'!
made me chuckle that did Paul.

Paul, I think this is an excellent shot, although sinister it is IMO, but I like that sort of shot as you probably may know
Cracking shot!

 

[Paul Lange]

Cracking shot!

That would be due to the large crack in the tree trunk!

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Haha!!
I see what you did there!