THE SHAPE OF THE FATHER: Laurie Freitag > Shape of the Father-FIRST PLACE: Never Edit 'Untitled 1'
Shape of the Father-FIRST PLACE: Never Edit 'Untitled 1'
Never Edit/ Untitled 1
FIRST PLACE
FIRST PLACE
Review by Juror Laurie Freitag
What really struck me about Never Edit's image Untitled 1 was the size of the child and how completely comfortable he is wrapped around his father. We usually see that kind of physical need and closeness with babies or very young children. But this child is older, and there’s no hesitation or self-consciousness at all. He just seems to know that he can climb onto his father, hold onto him and be completely safe there. And the father’s hand on his back makes it feel like this is completely natural between them.
For me, that’s what makes the photograph so moving. It says something about how that need for a parent—and that feeling of safety with them—doesn’t necessarily go
away just because a child gets bigger.
Q&A with Never Edit
Laurie Freitag: "What was it about this particular moment that made you take the photograph?"
Never Edit: "What made me take the photo was a spontaneous idea, I saw them lying there exhausted after swimming in an outdoor pool and I could literally feel how close they were."
Laurie Freitag: “What can you tell me about the relationship between this father and child?”
Never Edit: “I know both of them from that outdoor pool, and also they live in my neighbourhood, we always have a chat when we meet. Occasionally I took photos of them swimming and diving, and one day I took photos of the boy when he jumped from the 3 metre board into the pool. I caught him in the air as if he was flying, and the father had a t shirt printed for the boy of that moment.
They were very close, I think as is often the case the father didn’t have a happy childhood and he did everything for the boy that he himself had wished his father had done for him.”
Laurie Freitag: “The physical closeness between them is such a strong part of the image. What did you see in that moment?”
Never Edit: “They were so at ease with each other, in an innocent honest way, as if they were one, and their closeness moves me to this day.”
Laurie Freitag: “Was the child aware of you taking the photograph?”
Never Edit: “They were not aware that I took this particular photo and I never showed it to them.”
Laurie Freitag: “When you look at this image now, what stands out to you most about their interaction?”
Never Edit: “I came across it in my archive and found it so intense and peaceful in the midst of all their random stuff in the grass. They were so at ease with each other, in an innocent honest way, as if they were one, and their closeness moves me to this day.”
What really struck me about Never Edit's image Untitled 1 was the size of the child and how completely comfortable he is wrapped around his father. We usually see that kind of physical need and closeness with babies or very young children. But this child is older, and there’s no hesitation or self-consciousness at all. He just seems to know that he can climb onto his father, hold onto him and be completely safe there. And the father’s hand on his back makes it feel like this is completely natural between them.
For me, that’s what makes the photograph so moving. It says something about how that need for a parent—and that feeling of safety with them—doesn’t necessarily go
away just because a child gets bigger.
Q&A with Never Edit
Laurie Freitag: "What was it about this particular moment that made you take the photograph?"
Never Edit: "What made me take the photo was a spontaneous idea, I saw them lying there exhausted after swimming in an outdoor pool and I could literally feel how close they were."
Laurie Freitag: “What can you tell me about the relationship between this father and child?”
Never Edit: “I know both of them from that outdoor pool, and also they live in my neighbourhood, we always have a chat when we meet. Occasionally I took photos of them swimming and diving, and one day I took photos of the boy when he jumped from the 3 metre board into the pool. I caught him in the air as if he was flying, and the father had a t shirt printed for the boy of that moment.
They were very close, I think as is often the case the father didn’t have a happy childhood and he did everything for the boy that he himself had wished his father had done for him.”
Laurie Freitag: “The physical closeness between them is such a strong part of the image. What did you see in that moment?”
Never Edit: “They were so at ease with each other, in an innocent honest way, as if they were one, and their closeness moves me to this day.”
Laurie Freitag: “Was the child aware of you taking the photograph?”
Never Edit: “They were not aware that I took this particular photo and I never showed it to them.”
Laurie Freitag: “When you look at this image now, what stands out to you most about their interaction?”
Never Edit: “I came across it in my archive and found it so intense and peaceful in the midst of all their random stuff in the grass. They were so at ease with each other, in an innocent honest way, as if they were one, and their closeness moves me to this day.”
More about Never Edit:
"I'm a street photographer drawn to the honesty of everyday life. I work candidly, quietly capturing people as they are - unposed, unaware, and unapologetically themselves. For me, photography isn’t about perfection; it’s about truth. A fleeting glance, a quiet pause, a shared laugh—these are the moments I'm chasing.
Based in Duesseldorf, Germany, I like to travel and roam the streets with a camera and curiosity, blending into the rhythm of the world around me. Each image is a piece of a larger human story: real life, unscripted.
My style is simple and honest, letting the subject speak for itself. No filters, no façades - just moments that feel true."
Images for sale.
www.never-edit.com
instagram
www.instagram.com/never.edit
-----------------------------------------
HOME: The Shape of the Father
https://laphotocurator.com/the-shape-of-the-father-laurie-freitag
FIRST PLACE:
https://laphotocurator.com/the-shape-of-the-father-laurie-freitag/shape-of-the-father-first-place-never-edit-untitled-1----/1
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
https://laphotocurator.com/the-shape-of-the-father-laurie-freitag/honorable-mentions-lynn-buchanan-memories-of-childhood-vacations-kip-harris-father-and-son-jodphur-jane-gottlieb-curtain-call-prescott-moore-lassman-contrail/1
BEST SERIES:
https://laphotocurator.com/the-shape-of-the-father-laurie-freitag/best-series-beth-galton/1
GROUP EXHIBITION:
https://laphotocurator.com/the-shape-of-the-father-laurie-freitag/shape-of-the-father-exhibition-1/1
"I'm a street photographer drawn to the honesty of everyday life. I work candidly, quietly capturing people as they are - unposed, unaware, and unapologetically themselves. For me, photography isn’t about perfection; it’s about truth. A fleeting glance, a quiet pause, a shared laugh—these are the moments I'm chasing.
Based in Duesseldorf, Germany, I like to travel and roam the streets with a camera and curiosity, blending into the rhythm of the world around me. Each image is a piece of a larger human story: real life, unscripted.
My style is simple and honest, letting the subject speak for itself. No filters, no façades - just moments that feel true."
Images for sale.
www.never-edit.com
www.instagram.com/never.edit
-----------------------------------------
HOME: The Shape of the Father
https://laphotocurator.com/the-shape-of-the-father-laurie-freitag
FIRST PLACE:
https://laphotocurator.com/the-shape-of-the-father-laurie-freitag/shape-of-the-father-first-place-never-edit-untitled-1----/1
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
https://laphotocurator.com/the-shape-of-the-father-laurie-freitag/honorable-mentions-lynn-buchanan-memories-of-childhood-vacations-kip-harris-father-and-son-jodphur-jane-gottlieb-curtain-call-prescott-moore-lassman-contrail/1
BEST SERIES:
https://laphotocurator.com/the-shape-of-the-father-laurie-freitag/best-series-beth-galton/1
GROUP EXHIBITION:
https://laphotocurator.com/the-shape-of-the-father-laurie-freitag/shape-of-the-father-exhibition-1/1
