I was trying to capture the moments of modern people these days; how they would interact with one another and how they would do their daily activities. I had to do some modification and changes for the picture but I like the way the final result came out.

The Inclusion of Colors

For this photo alone, I include a lot of different colors. You can say that this is definitely a colorful picture. In some colors and areas, I enhance them so it would appear strong and brighter without compromising the natural sense. I also try to mix and match the colors; sometimes by introducing different contrast colors to make a statement. Different shapes and forms are also included so the final result will be rather odd but artistically appealing.

For instance, the half construction of the building construction with the industrial model and metal design looks odd and even out of the place with the rural background – but that’s how I expect the outcome will be. The all gray and silver building construction depicting a modern housing with its little elements looks totally odd when being paired up with the open field background. I wanted to make an impression of the modern housing construction located in the middle of nowhere in the rural area. The virgin green and yellow background with the open field construction and the striking blue sky is simply an amazing combination.

The Drama

Enough with the background and focus more on the setting of this photography. The couples are set to be the modern couples with edgy and eclectic taste. The woman has more color combinations than the man because it reflects different personalities and roles. She is a natural lover and she is into pets so much (at least, her dog is the center of her affection). She is vibrant and she is the queen of the house. With the vintage chair and her bare feet on the marble floor, she isn’t afraid to make a statement – or even control of the house.

The man, on the contrary, has a combination of rather an edgy style with a formal blazer and working shoes but he pairs them up with shorts and a bowler hat. He’s carrying a black rose, representing his flamboyant side but with a dark twist. He has a dark side in him that looks so contrast and yet appealing when matched up with the vibrant colorful aura of the woman.

The beauty of nature has never stopped to impress me. I always find it hard to believe that we are surrounded by such appealing and natural beauty – and yet we tend to take it for granted. Unfortunately, a lot of people are constrained to the indoor and not really want to take themselves outside. If only you had allowed yourself to enjoy more good time outdoor, you will be marveled at the natural shades, colors, and little elements of life intertwined themselves around you.

The Idea

When I took the picture, I simply imagined that it would be just a regular outdoor photography with the hiking activity as the basic focus. However, as I strolled around in a leisurely way, I found out more beauty and life around me. The way the leaves rustle, the vivid colors of the trees, and even the rays of sunlight appeal me in the way that I have never thought I would be captivated. During the walk, I realize that if you would only look closely, you will find such an enthralling and natural beauty that you may miss out. Let’s be honest, how many times in a day you step outside the door and marvel at the beauty around you? I believe not too often, right?

The Top Hiking

So, when I decided that I wanted to make an impressive shot of the day, I didn’t realize that it would be really easy. My camera was busy during the journey to the top but it was really busy when we reached the top. It didn’t stop taking pictures and shots because I was mesmerized by the natural view and the beautiful sceneries.

But then I took this shot and it simply blew my mind away. Everything seemed to be extremely perfect. The man is on the edge of the cliff with the perfect background of the sky. He was looking through his binoculars as if seeing the future and awaiting of the great things to come. I was more impressed by the play and combination of the natural colors. The green grass with some dry twigs, the gray strong stone, the mix of the white clouds, the peek of the blue sky, and the divine rays of the sunlight….everything seemed to create a great balance. The picture is like saying, “This is the world in a reality. These are the real colors of nature.”

Every child is entitled to their own dream but how they would make it come true depends on their efforts and their determination. After all, the childhood is a great moment and period where children are free to explore everything. They are free to decide what they want to be when they grow up and they are free to change their minds.

Do you remember your childhood? When you were a kid, how many dreams had you had? Have you ever wanted to be a pilot? Have you changed it to be a doctor or a firefighter? Are you living the dream of your childhood now? Kids are allowed to dream because it gives them hope and expectation. It would be great if such dream can be their solid support in achieving their final path in life. However, in case they can’t achieve it, it’s okay. If they have a loving and fun memory of the childhood, it is worth something. Well, at least that’s what I think.

The Simplicity in a Dream

I took the picture and I deliberately set it in a very personal and simple photography just to capture the moment. As I said before, I wanted to capture the moment where children are free to dream, to imagine what their future will be. That’s why I decided that this picture should be made simple and yet speaks a thousand words to those viewing it.

If you look at the picture, it is obvious that the kid in the picture wants to be a pilot. It is kind of obvious from the old-school and antique flying head cover, the goggles, and also the wooden plane on the background. He was shot while lying down in a relaxed way – just like kids usually do when they are daydreaming. I imagine that this particular kid likes to spend his time outdoor, lying on the grass on the open field, looking up at the blue sky and imagining himself flying the plane – soaring up to the sky.

The brown leather briefcase is just a symbol that he wants to do the flying as his professional job. He wants to be able to work on air, instead of being constricted on land. With a big smile, he dreams of what he will be one day and all the things he can do. It is such a great time for being a kid and for daydreaming.

Kids have a great imagination. They can turn everything into a real life experience as if they just experienced everything themselves. You can throw them different ideas and suggestions and they would act it out without doubts. They are such great dreamers with a vivid imagination.

For this photography, I wanted to make a marine or nautical theme but without having to include the water, the boat, and everything. These kids say that they could have acted it out as if they were being on a boat or a ship and they were being offshore. So I took their words to the heart and started making preparations for the photo.

The Preparation

There wasn’t anything fussy or complicated about the preparation. All I had to do was to prepare stripes elbow length shirts – which are so nautical. I picked blue because it would represent everything nautical – the blue sky, the blue water, and the blue background drop. I just picked the different shades of blue for the older sister (with a darker blue shade) so the shirts would look similar and yet have different shades and tone. The kids simply wore their favorite jeans – and the older sister wanted to fold the bottom ends a little upward.

They were sitting on the wooden floor, representing the deck of the ship. The background was a simple plain wall (cream, if I wasn’t mistaken) as if they were surrounded by the atmosphere of the ship itself. They were sitting and gathering in the middle as if they were in a small wooden ship, ready to sail through the water. They had their binoculars and everything ready so they could start their journey.

The Additional Props

To strengthen the nautical sense photography, I included some props and accessories that are related to the marine, water, and nautical. You can see the old-school and antique globe – which is important in every sail and water cruise. There was also a blue nautical buoy and the wooden wheel on the background. There was also a miniature sailing ship and a shell close to the kids, enhancing the atmosphere that they were being aboard the ship, instead of the floor.

They were great to work with. They came up with ideas of doing amazing poses so it would really look like they were sailing and ready to take some actions on the water. I picked this photo especially because of its simplicity. And yet it holds a lot of meaning.