The Godfather

Artist: Trish O'Brien
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Card: US$3.99
Print: from US$17.10

The Godfather

This is Arm, he’s a bit of an icon around this town, covered from head to toe in tattoos and piercings (even where it really must hurt….which I’m going to discover in a future shoot). My vision was to create an image that shows that we’re all human, regardless of the facade. To do this I thought the best way was to show a stark contrast between Arm and a perfect, untainted baby. Finding the baby seemed to be the biggest challenge in my thoughts, but luckily, whilst shooting a house for a real estate company, I chanced upon this little 3 week old girl – and surprisingly, her parents were delighted to bring her along. I had about 30 seconds to get it right before the baby started crying – the weather was cold and uninviting for a scantily clothed newborn.
Shot in natural light, Nikon D700 with 24-70 lens
Thank you for all your wonderful comments and features, I’m so glad to have found a place where my work is so appreciated!

I’m delighted to say this image won a Bronze Award in the International Aperture Awards in December 2009

The Godfather belongs to the following groups:

! $$☻The Christmas Shop (Get Art Promoted)☺ !, ! 100% !, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, ART HOUSE PRODUCTIONS INTERNATIONAL, Australian Contemporary Photography, Australian Portraits, Dimensions, EMI - The Group, First Things, Friends of RedBubble, Inspired By Life, Mood & Ambience - Strictly Photos, Oh Baby!, Shameless Self-Promotion, Solo Exhibition, Tattoo, Piercing and Body Modification, The Grunge Art Gallery, The Human Condition and The X - Human Sentiment Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters

~ Ademac

Your image would make a great addition to the Tattoo, Piercing and Body Modification group
Trish O'Brien replied

Thanks! How do I submit it to that group? Just a newbie here….
lazydaze

very cool shot!
Elizaday

Bloody brilliant! Love the story being told here.
Trish O'Brien

Thanks everyone – this was a really fun shoot to do – although I only had about 20 seconds before the baby started crying, so it all had to be firmly in my head before the baby was brought in. He’s a tattoo artist, pretty famous around town, and agreed to the shoot before I’d actually found a baby. Luckily I was shooting a house for a real estate agency and there was this 3 week old baby, with very willing young parents!
~ Ademac

Sent you a bmail Trish
Anthony Begovic

Can I favorite this twice?
Trish O'Brien replied

Thanks Anthony, I’m really glad you like it :-)
Anthony Begovic

Trish, please add this to my group, The Human Condition.
Trish O'Brien replied

Done! Thanks Anthony :-)
Elana Bailey

Fab portrait and concept. Well done.
Trish O'Brien replied

Thank you Elana, thats very kind of you
Shelly Hiebert

Trish this is brilliant! Now that is some hardcore contrast in so many ways! Love this :)
Trish O'Brien replied

Thanks Shelly, yes the hardcore contrast is exactly what I was going for – and luckily ended up with!
Basia McAuley

Absolutely fantastic,, love it!
Trish O'Brien replied

Thanks Basia :-)
John Spies

excellent shot, the colour, expression, the tough and tender contrast..love it
Trish O'Brien replied

Thanks John, glad you like it :-)
madworld

Instant favourite, this is an absolutely wonderful image, love how he is holding the baby and looks to all accounts like a full on macho man…obviously a big softie at heart.
Trish O'Brien replied

Thanks for your great comments. Funnily enough he was very soft with the baby, but has a very bad reputation for being quite violent at times. Luckily I haven’t seen that part of him, nor did the baby!
ToastedGhost

A bloody wicked shot
sensational!
Trish O'Brien replied

Thanks toastedghost – its not even close to your incredible standard of creativity, but I’m really glad you like it! I adore your work!
ToastedGhost

hey but then I’m am not a classical musician (cellist)
keep going I know you are going tp produce some incredible art
Trish O'Brien replied

haha, being a musician actually has its drawbacks. I got into a phase recently where i was listening to the band Muse, constantly, and shooting images to it. It literally nearly drove me insane, I think I completely lost it and had to ban myself from music for a while :-) When I’ve learnt how to deal with it all at once I’ll let you know! I think I need an anchor before I can go to those places, and at the moment there’s no such being in my life.
Matt Bottos

Awesome portrait! Love the rugged street vibe juxtaposed with the protective/nuturing sentiment
Trish O'Brien replied

Thanks Matt, thats exactly what I was hoping people would see.
CapturedByKylie

This is a great photo and tells a great story. If i didn’t know the story behind the photo i would have actually thought the baby belonged to the man as he seems to have a very loving, caring attitude towards the infant.
Trish O'Brien replied

Thanks Kylie – he didn’t know the baby, but he was very gentle with her.
Matthew Dawkins

Very cool. Amazing lighting and color.
Trish O'Brien replied

Thanks Matthew, I’m really glad you like it
Robert Armstrong

Fantastic portrait! Excellent work!
Trish O'Brien replied

Thank you Robert, thats very kind of you
Matt Adamik

This is so friggin’ great I am almost speechless!
Trish O'Brien replied

Lol, thanks Matt, I love your reaction to it…hope you can speak now :-)
simonesphotos

Brilliant image Trish!!
Trish O'Brien replied

Thanks again Simone :-)
Robyn Bohlen

LOVE this image….it’s incredible….lol…like Matt above me there…lol…I’m blown away….really awesome composition!!!
Trish O'Brien replied

Thank you Robyn, its great to get such excited responses! Very encouraging :-)
jacqleen

JUST AWESOMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE !!!! LOVE!!!
Trish O'Brien replied

Thank you Jacqleen – sorry its been a while but I haven’t had time to respond for a few days. Really glad you like it!
Tracey Mac

I know this guy, used to see him around Coffs all the time….........this is a priceless image, perfectly composed….......love it….....
Trish O'Brien replied

Haha, a Coffs person :-) I ran into him the other night – looks like there might be another shoot in the making, very different and very challenging, but I can’t wait! Thanks so much for the lovely comment!
navybrat

sensational!
Trish O'Brien replied

Thanks navybrat – very cool profile pic you have there!!
Angie Muccillo

What a wonderful portrait!!
Trish O'Brien replied

Thanks Angie :-)
kimangeline

WOWWW ….
Trish O'Brien replied

Thankssss :-)
Jan Timmons

Great subject contrast. While you might feel glad you decided to post at RB, I’m grateful you did, as I see many others are.
Trish O'Brien replied

Thank you SO much Jan, that is a really lovely thing to say xx
mandem

Love this picture great idea …great contrast between the two. Excellent!
Trish O'Brien replied

Thanks mandem, glad you like it!
DaveBassett

Superb capture – great execution of a most creative idea.
Trish O'Brien replied

Thanks so much Dave, I appreciate that!
Gorandos

great….love is look=)=)...so protective=)
Judith Oppenhe...

absolutely perfect portrait
deahna

A very clever way of getting your message across. I love it.
sally williams

This is absolutely brilliant!! Blasts all stereotypes out of the window…
Earthmonster

Awesome image, Thanks for submitting it to the group :)
Morgana Creely

Fabulous :)
Sharon Mau
Scott d'Almeida

brilliant,
limerick

Fantastic Shot!!!!
David Silsbury

Great composition Trish, well done and congratulations on being featured.
David xx
Earthmonster

Editors Choice
Trish O'Brien replied 13 days ago

Sorry for the late response – and thank you SO much for the feature, thats brilliant!
blueeyesjus 13 days ago

There it is…..I looked earlier for this when I read about your award but couldn’t find it, maybe it was right under my nose. This is such an amazing image Trish, the purity of the baby in it’s white wrap against such a foreboding character and that wonderful street tagged backdrop, just brilliant.
Trish O'Brien replied 13 days ago

haha, it was hidden but I put it on the front page for a while. Thanks for the compliments, I really appreciate all your encouragement Jus. I wish I had more time to do more of this kind of work – just for me rather than clients – hopefully things will settle in the new year and I can get back into it.
How’s that SP going Jus? :-)
Shoaib . 11 days ago

oh yes.. this is what i m talking about… your work is real ART .. amazing messages and Stories with images
you have an exceptional talent
Trish O'Brien replied 11 days ago

Thanks sweetie, you’re a star in your own right though, I’m having trouble keeping up with you :-)
ellamental 11 days ago

This is a piece of history!!!
Colleen Milburn 11 days ago

Oh, how absolutely glorious, Trish :))
Heather Rivet... 11 days ago

brilliant portrait
F.A. Moore 10 days ago

Congratulations, Trish, on your wonderful Bronze medal for this image of contrasts, in the International Aperture Awards.
Russ Styles 10 days ago

Fantastic portrait..great story…
Simone Byrne 9 days ago

This is such an amazing image Trish, the concept alone is brilliant, but you have set the scene beautifully. I particularly love the graffiti juxtaposed with the tattoos, brilliant work!
F.A. Moore about 21 hours ago

Inside Solo, vol 23! <<Click to go!
Congratulations on being News in the magazine

^{Inside Solo is the Art News and Resource magazine from Solo Exhibition.}

Click the link, above, to go see your work highlighted in the Art News section for members. The magazine is now a formal publication, in PDF format, downloadable from its RB page. There’s a link back to comment on the magazine, at the base of the inside back cover.