‘Tis the season to revel in photographic (and/or photogenic) disasters.
By Last week, my fellow Daily Post contributor Robyn wrote about the liberating power of embarrassing stories. It got me thinking about our collective reluctance to show less-flattering sides of our lives and personalities.
The imperative to present a perfect facade is doubly strong when it comes to our photos. Here, it’s not just the subject matter we care about — the perfect day at the beach; smiling, well-dressed toddlers; a faux-nonchalant smirk at a party. The picture itself has to be Instagram- and/or blog-worthy. Our images are always photoshopped in spirit, even if we don’t use the actual software.
This week, I say enough. And present you with the greatest gingerbread house disaster off all time:
This was taken last December, when we thought, despite our best judgment, that building a kitschy structure made out of inedible pieces of dough was a fun way to spend an afternoon with our son. (Both my wife and I come from decidedly gingerbread-house-free cultures, so we have an excuse.)
The result was a total catastrophe: the thing collapsed instantaneously, and it took hours to scrape off all that nasty royal icing (it was somehow everywhere). But it was also a hilarious, belly-laugh-inducing catastrophe. We’d failed to create a photo op, but not a memory. As for the photo, I’m the first to admit it’s not amazing: the lighting was harsh, and the angle made it tough to capture the full scope of our inaptitude. But you know what? For once, we didn’t care.
This week, share a photographic “Oops!” moment with us. The fiasco could be what’s in the picture: anything broken, jumbled, or otherwise cringe-worthy (ugly sweaters are encouraged!). Or it could be something in the photo-taking itself, from the tip of your finger ruining a meticulously framed panorama to an inopportune shadow messing up a family portrait.
Go funny, or serious, or go with a mixture of both — just let it all hang. You’re among friends!
We’ve never attempted a gingerbread house, but I could easily see this happening. Hope this year’s preparations are going better. 😉
janet
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Perhaps…or not but maybe this is quite fitting for this theme http://steve-says.net/2015/12/05/the-worlds-top-10-awkward-christmas-photos-2015-edition/
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This is one of those harder challenges, since I quickly delete pics that don’t come out how I’d like them to.
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Same here, but let’s try!
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A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, two Jedi knights use their massive powers to amass…
candies and cookies…
to distribute to the people– Ooops,
it’s the Weekly Photo Challenge: Oops at:
http://marichulambino.com/2015/12/13/2-jedi-knights-use-their-powers-to-collect-candies-oops-for-the-weekly-photo-challenge-oops/
Happy weekend everyone!
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No photos!
https://insellos.wordpress.com/2015/12/12/weekly-photo-challenge-oops/
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Lessons learnt from this photo: clean your lens frequently when shooting at the beach….
https://mattvonp.wordpress.com/2015/12/11/weekly-photo-challenge-oops/
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I get the feeling that the messier the better!!! 😉
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Here’s my opps: https://solaner.wordpress.com/2015/12/11/wpc-oops/
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Tough challenge………..Notice one of the ruts: http://wp.me/p3gqMf-rN
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What a great topic! I found a photo of a fun fail when I got my hiking boots soaked on the Ice Age Trail one wet Wisconsin June. But running barefoot in new grass is a great oops benefit!
http://scillagrace.com/2015/12/11/weekly-photo-challenge-oops-fun-fails/
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This is a challenge, since I usually delete the duds on the first go-around after uploading my pics to the computer. Will have to get creative 🙂
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This was easier for me than recent challenges. I seem to be a magnet for the ‘oops’ moment. https://castelsarrasin.wordpress.com/2015/12/11/oops-weekly-photo-challenge/
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This was a hard topic for me.
http://ceenphotography.com/2015/12/11/the-daily-post-weekly-photo-challenge-oops/
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This oughta be good! 🙂
Here is my Oops!
https://themomhood.wordpress.com/2015/12/11/breakfast-mishap/
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Oops! | Huge Ass Beers http://www.jaspersmits.net/2015/12/11/oops-huge-ass-beers/ jaspersmits.net
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NIght shooting, no es bueno…https://indacampo.wordpress.com/2015/12/11/uy-oh-ay/
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“Oops” is a word you don’t want to hear while you’re getting a tattoo. I’m sure the people getting tattooed at MBK Tattoo Contest in Bangkok, didn’t have to worry about that. Check out the amazing Thai tattoo talents in this post: https://cardinalguzman.wordpress.com/2015/12/11/mbk-tattoo-contest-vol-10-2015/
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Here is one of my favorite ‘Oops’ photos – Mt. Fuji in all its glory – http://wp.me/p3CFsE-2kG
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ha, that’s a good challenge. now let’s see if there is undeleted ‘oops’ among my photos.
http://lessywannagohome.blogspot.be/2015/12/oops.html
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https://bopaula.wordpress.com/2015/12/11/oops/ It was a disaster cleaning after him.
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Well.. I still remember the drop of fresh fruit cake on the floor.. the moment I tried to add few more strawberries on the top.. while twisting the whole structure around.. and then the moment of fall.. is not easy to describe.. I was lucky to have enough time and products to bake another one 🙂 respect! cheers
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Courageous subject! I found my image with broken gingerbread house and red-eye all in one photo
https://piecesofstarlight.wordpress.com/2015/12/11/wpc-oops-celebrating-the-imperfect/
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It was embarrassing how easily I came up with contenders – in fact, I had a number to choose from!
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I know this is a new, original design, but isn’t the kayak supposed to stay on top of the water? http://windagainstcurrent.com/2015/12/11/oops/
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My photography fails:
https://anthropologist.wordpress.com/2015/12/11/oops-wordpress-daily-photo-challenge/
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My oops is what is in the picture.
https://linsdoodles.wordpress.com/2015/12/11/weekly-photo-challenge-oops/
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@benhuberman you did say let it all hang so here’s a couple of cheeky (very) non-pc stormtroopers…
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Nice theme this week! Here is mine: http://stenoodie.com/2015/12/11/weekly-photo-challenge-oops/ 🙂
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Great one. Sadly I usually delete all my oops shots but here is a different take on oops.
http://thirdeyemom.com/2015/12/11/custer-state-park-beware-of-bison-crossing/
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I like to forget the opps! moments. Learn from them, don’t dwell on them. In this digital age, the dodgy photos are deleted very quickly.
Yet, if everything we did was efficient, there would be no creativity or innovation.
http://cherriezell.com/2015/12/12/weekly-photo-challenge-opps/
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Mine’s a funny one with a story attached this week. Here’s the link if you want to take a look https://invisible2001.wordpress.com/2015/12/11/wpc-oops/ 🙂
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