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Love You Teddy by Leanne Lindsay

In this heartwarming portrait, a young child named Ivy is captured in a moment of pure, imaginative play. Clutching her beloved teddy bear, Mr. Snuggles, she navigates the world with a look of intense determination, transforming an ordinary environment into an epic adventure. The photographer masterfully utilizes a shallow depth of field to isolate the subject, emphasizing the child's expressive features and the significance of her small-scale journey. This image is award-worthy for its ability to elevate a simple, everyday childhood experience into a magical narrative, reminding viewers of the boundless wonder and joy found within a child's perspective.

Love You Teddy by Leanne LindsayLove You Teddy by Leanne Lindsay
Nikon Z 7 II with Nikon NIKKOR Z 105mm f/2.8 VR S
Exposure 1/500sec @ f/3 | ISO 800 | Focal Length 105mm
Copyright Β© Leanne Lindsay
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Leanne Lindsay

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in Adelaide in 1962, Leanne Lindsay relocated to Sydney during her youth. Although her early interest in photography was interrupted by the theft of her first camera, she rediscovered her creative passion in her late fifties. Now based in Sydney, she specializes in family and newborn portraiture while maintaining a keen interest in architectural and landscape photography, capturing the world with a renewed sense of wonder and technical precision.

Profile View Full Profile
6.7/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
32/500
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SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
2,897 views | 5 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date June 8, 2024
68.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 12.0
Clarity 12.0
Composition 18.0
Style 13.0
Skill 13.0
Photograph Location
Sydney, Australia

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Black & White Photography
Leanne Lindsay Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (6.4/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
1.1/5 points
210/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
2,897/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.0/5 points
0/100 Review
Submissions
0.3/5 points
32/500 Submission
Jury Score: 68.0/80
Resonance Score: 6.4/20
Total Award Score: 74.4/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 5

Clara Whitfield Award Criteria, Legacy & What Makes an Image Endure Expert Review
Most childhood portraits are saccharine, but this one avoids the trap. By pinning the focus razor-thin on Ivy’s brow, Lindsay captures a gravity usually reserved for war photographers. It’s that look of fierce, unadulterated purpose that makes me smile; I’ve seen thousands of kids with toys, but rarely one so convinced of the mission. In thirty years, this won’t be just a snapshot of a girl, but a document of how it feels to be truly small and mighty.
Julian Rowe Experimental Photography, Motion & Alternative Visual Languages Expert Review
The shallow depth of field here feels a bit safe, doesn't it? While the jury praises the isolation of Ivy, I’m left craving a disruption of that clinical sharpness. Why resolve the teddy bear so perfectly when the child’s imagination is inherently fluid? It’s technically competent, but I’d love to see Lindsay embrace motion blur to mirror the chaos of play. It’s a sweet moment, but it’s playing by the rules when it could be breaking them.
Catherine Byrne Photographic History, Canon & the Long View Expert Review
Ivy’s gaze echoes the unvarnished psychological depth found in Helen Levitt’s street portraits, yet the 105mm compression pulls her into a modern, isolated intimacy. It’s a delicate balance; while the shallow depth of field leans toward contemporary commercial polish, the raw intensity in her eyes feels timeless. I’ve spent decades cataloging childhood, but the sheer, focused gravity Ivy projects here genuinely stopped me in my tracks. It’s a quiet, profound departure from the usual sentimental cliches.
Franz Hubner Night Photography, Astrophotography & the Scale of the Cosmos Expert Review
At f/3, the depth of field is thin, isolating Ivy from the terrestrial blur. It’s a quiet, earthly contrast to the deep-space photons I usually track. While I spend my nights fighting the thermal noise of a sensor to capture light from eons ago, Leanne captures a fleeting, singular moment of human growth. It’s fragile. Looking at Ivy’s determination, I’m reminded that our own short, bright lives are just as miraculous as the stars.
Amara Diallo Portrait, Human Story & Narrative Portraiture Expert Review
We look at Ivy and we see the weight of a world only she can navigate. She isn’t just holding Mr. Snuggles; she’s anchoring her courage against the vastness of her own imagination. Leanne listened to the quiet intensity in those eyes before she clicked the shutter. It’s a rare, tender honesty that catches in my throat. We’re reminded that childhood isn’t smallβ€”it’s an epic journey. This is a photograph that asks to be returned to.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Rashid Noor

The Weight of Small Things

Why do we insist that the most significant burdens are the ones that break our backs, when the heaviest things we carry are often those we hold in our arms by choice?

Read the reflection →
By Marta Vidal

The Weight of Softness

I keep a small, velvet ribbon in the back of my desk drawer, frayed at the edges and smelling faintly of cedar. It once belonged to a doll I carried everywhere until the stuffing began to leak and the button eyes grew loose.

Read the reflection →

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