I take a lot of pictures of the kids, too many, probably, but most of them aren’t anything special. One or both of them is standing there, standing still, posing, or they’re making a funny face or giving each other rabbit ears, or they’re holding up a hand to block the lens, like they’re a movie star and I’m a paparazzo.
That’s why I like this picture of Thing 2, who’s 6.
We were on vacation, and at that moment, his mind was someplace else. He wasn’t posing. He wasn’t being silly. He was just being himself. I noticed the moment, leaned over the rail and took a picture. Once he realized I was there, he posed for a proper picture, but it wasn’t the same. He wasn’t being himself.
Of the hundreds of pictures I have of him at 6, this crooked, slightly out-of-focus snapshot may be the best.
Todd Pack 
Your post title brought to mind Jackson Browne’s “Fountain of Sorrow.” The song has nothing to do with sweet Thing 2 possibly plotting to take over the world or maybe wondering what’s for lunch, but I like the idea of capturing the true spirit of someone when they’re not posing.
I forgot to say, “Great picture!”
Though crooked, you’re right, this photo’s beautiful. His mind is elsewhere and he’s focused there. What an interesting capture. Nice work. Some of my art’s on wordpress and etsy too if you’re interested:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/letsgolescophotos.
Thanks for sharing!
You’re a good dad, Todd! And one day, Thing 1 and 2 will thank you for capturing this kind of great photo — or, if they don’t, they SHOULD! It’s nice to see a shot of a kid just being himself.
Thanks for not telling us what the F stop was or any other special setting of whatever digital machine generated this tremendous moment, frozen forever.
Candid shots are my favorite. I really like your photo!
That’s a great picture and I so agree with you about catching them when they don’t expect it. The funny, posed pictures are great but the ones that truly capture the child’s essence (in my humble opinion) are the ones like this one…when they are in their own world. And it makes it special because those moments when you can actually catch it are very rare.
Get all the pictures you can, they accelerate from here.