Candid Photos

I'm a huge fan of candid photos - I think they have more personality and can pack more memories than a picture of a group of people gathering around and mugging for the camera.

Take, for example, the difference between this posed photo:

and this candid photo:

The difference, to put it simply, is stark. STARK.

Let's look at another comparison. Sometimes the difference isn't just in the personality or the candor of the picture at all. Sometimes, it's about being honest and true to the moment that occurred. Here's a posed shot (I don't know why Joann is the subject of all my photos today) from a few months ago:



Some friends had gathered at my house to eat and watch the Super Bowl together. And here she was, studying diligently, firmly on the straight and narrow path to Optometristland.

...

Or was she? Here's a candid shot:



She's watching and enjoying the game and the commercials just like the rest of us! Oh, the horror.

Of course, there is a time and place for posed photos. You can't beat them if you want to remember who was at a certain trip, who participated in a certain event, or who you need to email when planning the next trip or event. And it's also nice to have pictures where people are smiling and happy.

But candid photos are the ones that really make me smile.