To balance, I should add the younger girl is very cute and I like the reflection in her eyes.

I have no technical experience to help me
rate these photos.
So I go with the feeling that the photo
makes me have.
After only 2 or 3 days here,I sure
have gotten lots of good feelings!

golly-gee zorilla, you're just so darn plucky. too bad you're also aggressively silly.

@culberda:
I can your appreciate honesty, but take offense to the reference of "grotesque" to the older person. Not that you'd know it, but she's my wife, which obviously raises my hackles even further. A theme titled "scenes from our life" is obviously going to include personal images. Nonetheless, I think you're way off base with that kind of reference. I respectfully ask you to choose your words with more thought.

George,
knowing who that person is - so knowing your side of the story - I can understand your reaction to culberda's "grotesque" remark. But, having read his (her?) words in the same ignorant state (s)he might be in, I must say I'm absolutely positive (s)he meant nothing like how you interpreted it.

I'm not saying (s)he's right, I'm not saying you're wrong - both sides are in a way right, I guess... If I take away the fact that the lady is your wife I find that remark not the least offensive. And, I guess, (s)he didn't know about that fact either.

And the shot is beautiful - highly deserved to have made it to the front page! Congrats!!!

George, This is a lovely shot, very worthy and your daughter's expression is priceless. :-)

George this is a beautiful shot of both people in the image. King would have staged this shot, but knowing you, I think it was a moment you captured and captured well. And it really doesn't matter if it's staged or not, it's a wonderful image full of emotion and intimacy.

@bioL: I still don't get it, but I appreciate you chiming in. You possess a refreshing openness. Keep it up :-)

@mtmartini:
Right on sistah! Thanks for the kind words :-)

@pursang:
Mark, you're right: it's not staged, at least not to the extent that I had them pose like this. I was taking some test shots of a setup I plan to use for an upcoming photo shoot of kids at my daughters' school. This moment simply occurred between the two of them. I love it. I'm glad it resonates with you. Cheers bro :-)

beckn32,To me it looks like she doesn't really want a kiss right now.
What a precious expression on that face!!

George,
I'm sorry to see you upset with what I think was a totally innocent choice of words (grotesque), that was probably a compliment. Here one definition of grotesque art...note especially the second paragraph:

"In art, a style in which a profusion of human figures, imaginary monsters, animals, flowers, and fruit are mingled in a fanciful and eccentric way. It is found particularly in mural and sculptural decoration.

Such decorations were found during excavations of Roman houses at the beginning of the 16th century, notably at the Domus Aurea (Golden House) of Emperor Nero, and the Baths of Emperor Titus. Discovered in underground chambers (grottoes) they became known as grotteschi.

The designs inspired Italian Renaissance artists; Raphael and his followers quickly established grotesque motifs as a facet of their style, particularly in their frescoes. The medallions and panels of the loggia of the Vatican feature grotesque designs by Raphael, carried out by Giulio Romano and Giovanni da Udine. Early examples of grotesque ornament in architecture occur in Pinturicchio's cathedral library ceilings at Siena (1502), and Perugino's ceiling of the Cambio in Perugia (about 1500)."

http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/m0064483.html

or, to quote Ruskin out of context:

""A fine grotesque is the expression, in a moment, by a series of symbols thrown together in a bold and fearless connection, of truths which it would have taken a long time to express in any verbal way, and of which the connection is left for the beholder to work out for himself."

Nice King,very!

I second king! had same thoughts as I rated the image.

For some reason when I saw this photo I had a flash forward to this little girl's wedding day. She'll have to schedule it for the springtime, though. Nicely done, again.

@King: The quotes give it a different angle that I hadn't considered. I *still* don't agree, but I only share that because I want to be frank. I'm not interested in talking about it any more. Nonetheless, I *always* appreciate your thoughtful input.

Thanks to All for the high ratings and feature :-)

I lost this one .. :(
what da sweetest thing .. love it.