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thirteen to life
1st Placethirteen to life
kanaj


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Bored III (Standard Editing)
Collection: Portfolio
Camera: Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Location: Austin County Jail Museum (Texas, USA)
Date: Oct 4, 2025
Aperture: 1.8
ISO: 1000
Shutter: 1/20
Date Uploaded: Oct 6, 2025

 This was another collaborative setup with my son, who is actually 12 in this image (but 13 sounded better for a title). We made an impromptu stop at this museum--housed inside the actual (now retired) county jail building in Bellville, Texas--and he suggested I take a picture of him looking bored while "confined" in one of the old cells.

He doesn't know that what I see in this image is actually less of a playful riff on boredom and more of a poignant metaphor for the confinement and existential dread of those middle school years when you're considered "too old" to behave like a child, but not "old enough" to enjoy the privileges of late adolescence and young adulthood. I remember 7th grade feeling like an interminable period of time.


*** AFTER RESULTS ***

Thanks for all the wonderful comments and love this image has received, everyone! I'm truly humbled and grateful that my second blue would go to a portrait of my son. I wouldn't have figured it when we set this up, but it actually makes a lovely companion piece for his sister's portrait from earlier this year.

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 21
Avg (all users): 7.1818
Avg (participants): 6.6429
Avg (non-participants): 7.5789
Views since voting: 247
Views during voting: 73
Votes: 33
Comments: 11
Favorites: 2 (view)

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AuthorThread
 10/25/2025 12:14:55 PM
An excellent portrait! Congratulations. I hope he likes it, too!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/25/2025 04:19:01 AM
Originally posted by Neat:
Superb lighting, congrats on your second blue!

indeed!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/24/2025 07:37:24 PM
I voted 10 minutes before rollover and I was sure that I hit 10 but it registered 9 and my congratulation for a great photo and subject got cut by midnight.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/24/2025 03:00:07 PM
I love your story background on this photo. It's great being able to do this with your kids. Enjoy it! Mine are all grown but I have 'history' here over the years in past challenge entries. It's fun to look back at them eventually. I wish that for you as well. Keep it up!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/24/2025 01:48:32 PM
Congratulations Jonathan! Perfect setup, nicely rendered BW, and your son is a great model!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/24/2025 12:03:00 PM
Superb lighting, congrats on your second blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
10/22/2025 05:28:03 PM
The light is so awesome. What a great look on the boy's face. Very nice tones and contrasts. 13 is hard.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/22/2025 06:27:34 AM
My favorite in this challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/18/2025 05:02:07 PM
You look so board.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/17/2025 03:46:56 AM
blue for sure .. immediate fav ..
and my absolute favourite in the challenge ..
and a more than perfect depiction of boredom ..
oh .. and brilliant title ..
this has it all ..!!..
not voting atm .. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/17/2025 02:00:33 AM
You blew my mind with this lighting... Voted earlier
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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