Last April I took some photographs of Jonathan’s communion day – he being my wife’s first cousin – and managed to capture a really nice set of images (if I do say so myself) that documented the day from him getting ready in the morning to enoying the bouncy castle with friends that evening. For me it was a bit like wedding coverage, except without the church bit, because I didn’t photograph that part of the day. I did take a few photos at Jonathan’s school after the communion mass and it was there that I captured what is one of my favourite portraits ever.
The shot, which I call “Cheeky Monkeys” was not set up. I didn’t ask Jonathan and his friend to do funny faces, even though that is something I often do when photographing kids to get them to relax a little, and (if I’m fast enough) to capture their reaction at seeing the photograph of the funny face on the back of my camera.
In this case the idea was to actually capture a “nice” photograph of the two boys. They had a different idea of what a “nice” photograph would be than their parents. What I particularly love about the image is the fact that both of them, quite independently and yet absolutely simultaneously, decided to put on the most ridiculous faces. And I think it’s clear from the photo too that they are good friends.
This image was one of those I had on display at the Dublin Camera Club Annual Exhibition, and it was awarded 3rd place in the Colour Portraiture category. Following that exhibition, it was selected by the DCC selection committee as one of about 30 images to go on tour to Scotland for display in an exhibition being held by the Edinburgh Photographic Society at that society’s request. I believe that exhibition runs for most of August, so these two cheeky monkeys may well be giving some people a few laughs in that part of the world at the moment. If you’ve seen it on display there please let me know!
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