Prince George 1st birthday photo ... is rather average

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inkiboo

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28389029

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Unless I am missing something here, that appears to be a very average photo and if that is the best of the set I would hate to see the worst.
 
It's just a paparazzi snap... what do you expect? Press photographers are generally pretty crap. They're skill is being there... getting a sharp well exposed image, and getting it to print ASAP, and even that's becoming redundant these days, as editors just trawl social media instead.
 
Thought John Stillwell was the royal photographer for the Press Association. He's always publishing royals shots.
 
It's not a pap snap, says it was the official photo to Mark his birthday. The same 'official' photographer that released the first pics of the birth and his christening.

I agree, it's pretty average for the future King
 
Byker28i said:
Thought John Stillwell was the royal photographer for the Press Association. He's always publishing royals shots.
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He is... but just a press snapper really.

http://www.corbisimages.com/photographer/john-stillwell-pa-wire

munchycarrot said:
It's not a pap snap, says it was the official photo to Mark his birthday. The same 'official' photographer that released the first pics of the birth and his christening.

I agree, it's pretty average for the future King
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Which were also just pap snaps as I recall.
 
Hmm... I would say it has been very carefully and deliberately chosen for exactly the reasons that are being mentioned - because it's pretty average, in fact, it is the same sort of photo most people would have of their toddlers early steps. Based on the Royal Family PR these days making huge efforts to be more normal, appear more like the rest of us especially with anything to do with William, Kate and George then releasing this particular photo actually makes huge sense, it will appeal to the 'great unwashed' ;)
 
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Pookeyhead said:
Wasn't referring to them. Was referring to the pap snaps from Stillwell.
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Re-read what you said; John did release christening photos as he was the WPA pool member on the day and you are right, they were pap not posed.
 
We posted at the same time... see post #9
 
So confusing, we all posted together! :D

@Pookeyhead He might be a press photographer but that's not a paparazzi shot, that all I meant (y)
 
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munchycarrot said:
So confusing, we all posted together! :D

@Pookeyhead He might be a press photographer but that's not a paparazzi shot, that all I meant (y)
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Yeah.. but he's a pap... not a proper photographer, so the results will be the same. Yvonne is probably right.... better media image... get the proletariat to think of him as cute little baby instead of an over-privileged parasite. Good move really.
 
Pookeyhead said:
Yeah.. but he's a pap... not a proper photographer, so the results will be the same. Yvonne is probably right.... better media image... get the proletariat to think of him as cute little baby instead of an over-privileged parasite. Good move really.
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Over privileged parasite FFS:rolleyes: He's a one year old boy who had no choice to be born into the life he has. I'm no Royalist but that's a pathetically ignorant comment to make.
 
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Yv said:
Hmm... I would say it has been very carefully and deliberately chosen for exactly the reasons that are being mentioned - because it's pretty average, in fact, it is the same sort of photo most people would have of their toddlers early steps. Based on the Royal Family PR these days making huge efforts to be more normal, appear more like the rest of us especially with anything to do with William, Kate and George then releasing this particular photo actually makes huge sense, it will appeal to the 'great unwashed' ;)
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Spot on, even 50 years ago he'd be posed in a big chair with a sailor suit on or something.
 
I'm not hugely into anything about the royals, but think this sort of pic would be 1000x better if Prince William had taken it on his iphone and tweeted or posted to facebook, like other mums n dads do. Maybe a nice Instagram look, haha!
 
Yv said:
Hmm... I would say it has been very carefully and deliberately chosen for exactly the reasons that are being mentioned - because it's pretty average, in fact, it is the same sort of photo most people would have of their toddlers early steps. Based on the Royal Family PR these days making huge efforts to be more normal, appear more like the rest of us especially with anything to do with William, Kate and George then releasing this particular photo actually makes huge sense, it will appeal to the 'great unwashed' ;)
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This is exactly what I was coming into the thread to say...so :plusone:
 
Maybe its a photo that his mum and dad like.
I've seen plenty of less than perfect photos taken by "photographers" that others love. Lots of them on here. I've got loads, just not posted them yet!
 
MWHCVT said:
Good gosh when the brash man becomes the voice of reason you have to wonder is this the first indications of the end of the world!.....:p :LOL:
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May well be the end of your word if you don't watch yer cheek sonny Jim:)
 
idigitize said:
this sort of pic would be 1000x better if Prince William had taken it on his iphone and tweeted or posted to facebook, like other mums n dads do.
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Do they all do that?
 
I think you're confusing paparazzi snappers and photo-journalists. Different animals entirely.
 
Calling John Stillwell a paparazzo is somewhat misguided.
 
Care to explain why?
 
Because he's not. Simple as that. If you can't tell the difference between an editorial news photographer and a paparazzo then I suggest you do some research.
 
inkiboo said:
If you can't tell the difference between an editorial news photographer and a paparazzo then I suggest you do some research.
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There's the odd glimmer of interestingness here and there, but for jobs like that you'll be working with a journalist and have a brief to work to. The vast majority of his stuff is pretty standard press fare though. He's certainly no better than thousands of other press photographers out there. Considering that he's afforded the opportunity to be in interesting places with interesting people almost constantly I'd expect a great deal more to be honest. Perhaps he shoots what sells (shrug).. why wouldn't you? Either way, I'm judging him by his images, and the majority are just press snaps. In fairness... he's probably better than his work suggests, or I would hope so, but we'll never actually know. The reality is. you're pretty much as good as your work though, and most press images are crap.
 
I think as photographers, we're guilty of missing the point here. It would have been easy to have released the usual stiff posed photograph that most royal portraits are, but that would have been inappropriate in this instance. The picture tells a story as it captures the child walking on their own, a significant thing when you're that age, and something not all children can do when they turn one.

No it's not a technically accomplished image but it doesn't need to be. Those of us who are parents (or grandparents) will have loads of snaps like this of our children taking their first steps taken on Polaroid, film, iPhone, dslr, or whatever and are far more meaningful than a posed portrait, and even that's not easy to capture with an unruly toddler.
 
All that may be true but he is not a paparazzo. There is a world of difference between a news photographer and someone who doorsteps people in the public eye; I'm surprised you don't know the difference.
 
inkiboo said:
All that may be true but he is not a paparazzo. There is a world of difference between a news photographer and someone who doorsteps people in the public eye; I'm surprised you don't know the difference.
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I'm well aware of the difference. It's more of a moral one than a technical one though. Whether it's a snap of some pop stars knickers, or a new born heir to the throne... if the style of photography is the same, then it's a slim distinction to make.. photographically. The majority of his stuff is just grab shots... lets be honest.

viewfromthenorth said:
I think as photographers, we're guilty of missing the point here. It would have been easy to have released the usual stiff posed photograph that most royal portraits are, but that would have been inappropriate in this instance.
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I agree completely.

viewfromthenorth said:
The picture tells a story as it captures the child walking on their own, a significant thing when you're that age, and something not all children can do when they turn one.
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Agreed again. No one's disputing the image. My point is... pretty much anyone could have taken it assuming they were their and had a decent camera. The same can be said for the majority of press images... not all of course... but the majority.

viewfromthenorth said:
No it's not a technically accomplished image but it doesn't need to be. Those of us who are parents (or grandparents) will have loads of snaps like this of our children taking their first steps taken on Polaroid, film, iPhone, dslr, or whatever and are far more meaningful than a posed portrait, and even that's not easy to capture with an unruly toddler.
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Agreed. Still doesn't make him Eamonn McCabe does it? :)
 
Good press photography IMO, is about capturing moments. OK, these may not be his first faltering steps, but it shows us a moment, and the fact it is by a press photographer (irrespective of his abilities) rather than a portrait photographer makes it an interesting diverson from the norm in my eyes. 'Young prince takes first steps' is a more interesting news story (if you're a royal watcher or news editor) than 'Young prince poses with parents in palace'.
 
Does the palace have to vet the photographs? Perhaps this was the photo the palace wanted used. Apparently thee are two more being released today.
 
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