August 01, 2007

Finger
FOUND by Aline Smithson in Los Angeles, California
After collecting found photos for twenty-five years, I was incredibly proud of my thirteen-year-old son, who presented me with a disposable camera he found under his bunk at camp. When we developed the film, we decided this was our favorite shot.
Margaret in San Francisco, CA
I'd say it looks like lake tahoe...I wonder why he's so unhappy, though.
+ August 01, 2007 12:07 AM +
hotmom in your dreams
I would have guessed picture phone pic. I don't think this guy wanted his photo taken. He didn't even smile.
;)
+ August 01, 2007 12:07 AM +
julse in in my room eating (famous) Kool Aid Pie
well, that just about says it all.
+ August 01, 2007 12:12 AM +
hotmom in your dreams
Oh, but I just noticed that he may be waving at the camera!
+ August 01, 2007 12:25 AM +
Midlife Crisis
Oh to be 13 and on the bus to summer camp!

"You kids are going to have the time of your life!"

"Bite me."
+ August 01, 2007 12:26 AM +
Jade in bed ready for dreamland
Oh I love it!

It has "Bad Summer Camp Bus Trip" written all over it!
Probably taken by a nerdy little guy who so wanted to get in w/the 'cool dude' and well....it just didn't work out as planned.

Or - maybe the nerdy camp counselors are trying to get Doug here to sing along with them....and well, Doug doesn't play that.
+ August 01, 2007 12:37 AM +
Jan in the top bunk under an itchy blanket
That's the universal response when someone suggests, "Let's make lanyards!"
+ August 01, 2007 12:55 AM +
Unworthy in a short, pleated skirt on my way to Lake Tahoe
Hmmm...not exactly a happy camper, is he? Camp counselor confiscated his bag of weed. Gonna be a long, shitty summer....
+ August 01, 2007 01:25 AM +
in a pudding pie in a pudding pie
or maybe he is just having a goof. i don't really know if this portends all the tragedy and blackness y'all think it does. y'all must have had some bad times at camp!
+ August 01, 2007 01:50 AM +
Rob in Los Angeles
I think I can recreate the conversation that took place just before this picture was taken:

Aw man, don't take my picture. Don't. Ugh. Dude, don't take my picture. Jus..no..just don't. Because. Dude, put the camera down. Don't take my.....(sigh)...whatever [CLICK].
+ August 01, 2007 02:13 AM +
Rob in Los Angeles
I meant to say "recreate the subject's side o the conversation". Or should I say "con-versation"?
+ August 01, 2007 02:17 AM +
myeh
reminds me of those horrible, terrible road trips that i took as a child, everyone in the car is pissed, cranky and tired except for that one idiot yammering away about license plates and taking pictures of nature, smh
+ August 01, 2007 03:17 AM +
lintilla in upside-down land
Aww, a family that finds together...
+ August 01, 2007 03:49 AM +
Lizard Bits in a blender
The picture taker's part of the conversation would be:

"We're going to camp! I am SO excited! I'm going to make this trip a photo journal and scan it into my blog and EVERYbody will know what a great time we had! Oh, John, you're such a party pooper! Don't you want to be FAMOUS?! Ooooh!!! A cabin! Look at the camera John! Smile!!! JooooOOOooohn, you're not smiling... I'm going to take this picture whether you like it or not, so smile, damn it. Fine, put up your finger, you'll be known around the web as "The Guy with the Finger". You know when this trip is over I'm NEVER going to talk to you again. [CLICK]"

Strange... he is known around the internet as the guy with the finger...
+ August 01, 2007 05:33 AM +
pitch on the slab in fl
a good time was had by all
+ August 01, 2007 06:21 AM +
SALT in THE SEA
I HOPE HE'S ON HIS WAY TO FAT CAMP TO TAKE CARE OF THAT ASTRONOMICALLY SIZED DOUBLE CHIN AND PUDGY FINGERS
+ August 01, 2007 06:32 AM +
Carla Sue in her Colts pj's this morning, getting ready to find some breakfast
Well, we can see this guy is NOT a happy camper.
+ August 01, 2007 06:59 AM +
I remember when I was in junior high
Oh, come on! Do you guys seriously not remember when you were that age? Everyone is an idiot, and that's the universal response to having a camera pointed at you. I remember coming back from camp when I was 13, 14 years old, and having 40 pictures of completely happy people flipping my camera off. It's just because kids are stupid, not that this guy is particularly unhappy.
+ August 01, 2007 08:15 AM +
lost in america
he don't look like a 13 yr. old...
+ August 01, 2007 08:18 AM +
search in g google for the poster
http://www.alinesmithson.com/

I love google. Aline, you gave such a good hint that you were someone to be found. GREAT stuff, not your average photography! yummy.
+ August 01, 2007 08:26 AM +
search in g
P.S.- your mom ROCKS! awesome series.
+ August 01, 2007 08:28 AM +
Beeswax in the cupboard, next to the good china plates
I have several picture of myself in this pose. When someone says "Don't take my picture," it's probably a good idea to respect their wishes. There's a reason the camera wasn't recovered by the owner.
+ August 01, 2007 09:07 AM +
Gigi in the air over your house
Well, I for one would love to see the rest of the photos on this camera!
+ August 01, 2007 09:29 AM +
Kevin Shmevin in the waiting area at the bank
HEY! It's a younger Jimmy Kimmel as a camp counselor.
Not setting a good example for the kids I see...good to know some things haven't changed. I like this shot.
+ August 01, 2007 09:30 AM +
Turbo in the Thunderdome
I always appreciate the people who flip me off with their thumb sticking out. It says to me, "Fuck you. Do you need to hang your coat?"
+ August 01, 2007 09:34 AM +
klutch in albuquerque
Great find -- and sorry to get all tangential and stuff but Aline, your Hugo series is amazing. I remember when Pee Wee Herman used him as part of his act BEFORE he had the Playhouse show on telly.
+ August 01, 2007 10:57 AM +
in a state of disbelief in a state of disbelief
So now professional photographers are using this site as a PR tool, pasting up "finds" in order to lure us to their Web sites? Sheesh. You can't escape the long arm of PR these days!
+ August 01, 2007 11:04 AM +
monie in in the middle
Aline - how come in your self-portrait series, you have black feet in one of the shots?
+ August 01, 2007 11:13 AM +
Ang in the Midwest
Gosh, ease up on Aline. She didn't post her website, nor make any mention of being a professional photographer. I'm pretty sure that photographers are people who enjoy websites like Found on a personal level, just like non-photographers.

+ August 01, 2007 11:52 AM +
holly who doesn't have a website in in cubicle world
Great find, but why accuse Aline of using this to promote herself? She didn't give her web address, she just found something cool and shared it. Sheesh...I think the picture made you grumpy!
+ August 01, 2007 11:54 AM +
procrastinating in at work
This has bible camp written all over it, and who really is happy about bible camp?
+ August 01, 2007 12:48 PM +
Schneh
Hopefully Jesus.
+ August 01, 2007 01:14 PM +
chrome toaster in gramma's kitchen
I dig the find, I dig the phototgrapher's site, which I'd never have seen if not for search in g google... but most of all, I DIG HUGO!!

Now I must find a Hugo Doll.. Ohhh E-bay...

http://web.mac.com/sbatzel/iWeb/Random%20Thoug

+ August 01, 2007 01:22 PM +
Trashley in chucktown, MA
You got Lake Tahoe from this picture alone?
+ August 01, 2007 01:27 PM +
Christina in Illinois
My guess (from the look on his face) is that some overly hyper girl developed a hefty summer camp crush on him and he just wasn't digging her. She tried desperately to get a pic to show her friends back home the dreamy guy at camp, but this was his way of telling her to leave him alone- he wasn't interested.
+ August 01, 2007 02:09 PM +
Turbo in the Thunderdome
Oh! I get it! He's telling us it's the 1st of August. You crafty FOUND bastards! See you November 10th!
+ August 01, 2007 03:00 PM +
sara in busy busy
obviously he didn't go to dailyom.com today, because he would have seen the following article: Finding Happiness: A Reason To Smile.... Sheesh
+ August 01, 2007 03:22 PM +
I'm ready for my in sults now !!
Maybe he's pissed because he found out as soon as his parents dumped him off at camp , they headed straight for the beach !! ( That's what I'm doing )
+ August 01, 2007 04:42 PM +
Ancient Vivi in Nashmare
This find is creepy. The boy is probably a stalker. Today's find was stolen from the bus, and the person who took it was selfish. Remember when there were only two or three comments per find? I don't like the way Hotmom presents herself. SALT shouldn't write in all caps. Why a Bible camp and not a Koran camp? You shouldn't judge people for their weight. Everybody chill!
+ August 01, 2007 04:46 PM +
Jane in Florida
This is what is wrong in this world today. Parents who think this is funny or cute. It is so disrepectful and low brow.
+ August 01, 2007 06:01 PM +
Kevin Shmevin in agreement with Jane in Florida
Jane - You are probably on to something. That is probably the reason it was a "lost roll of film" in the first place: kid knew that his parents wouldn't approve of the photos that he/she took at camp.

I know " I " would NEVER hear the end of it.
+ August 01, 2007 06:28 PM +
dream in g
What camp is this?
+ August 01, 2007 06:37 PM +
Mona Lisa in thelouvre
Vivi, thanks for getting all the usual comments out of the way.
i for one, love all the comments. Makes things interesting.
here's the topic, 'giving the finger at camp' ..discuss.
+ August 01, 2007 06:55 PM +
found
I'm still laughing . . . fat camp.
+ August 01, 2007 07:24 PM +
aga in with the " here's what's wrong "theory
Jane , this is not even the root of what is wrong with the world today . It's just a picture of a kid flipping the bird . What's wrong is everybody judging everybody .
+ August 01, 2007 08:06 PM +
SALT in THE SEA
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT I TYPE IN ALL CAPS IN ORDER TO PROPERLY DISPLAY THE VAST IMPORTANCE, IMMENSE PRESTIGE, AND EXCEPTIONAL STATURE THAT IS MY PERSONA.
STOP BEING SUCH A JUDGMENTAL BITCH, VIVI, LET ME BE ME.
+ August 01, 2007 08:12 PM +
kim in briannaproctor@juno.com
We didn't get a 'creepy' comment until a quarter to 5? Lame.
Anyway, I was totally the kid taking pictures of people who didn't want their pictures taken. It was awesome. I have some sweet shots. Flip me off, sure, I don't care :)
+ August 01, 2007 08:24 PM +
Lizard Bits in a blender
I felt so privileged this morning... didn't have to do the question... I'm special.

As for people getting pissed off... it's pissing me off, get over yourselves. The End.
+ August 01, 2007 08:38 PM +
Matt in Augusta, Maine
He kinda looks like Jon Lovitz
+ August 01, 2007 09:04 PM +
Look who's call in g who a judgemental bitch.
SALT is a hypocritical bitch Mr. "I HOPE HE'S ON HIS WAY TO FAT CAMP TO TAKE CARE OF THAT ASTRONOMICALLY SIZED DOUBLE CHIN AND PUDGY FINGERS"

So stick that in your juice box and suck it.

anyway, about the found:
His finger looks like it is glowing, like it's a sign from the heavens or something. I sorta picture a chorus of angelic voices going "Ahhhhhhhh" in perfect harmony when this was taken.
But then again that could have been the cheap flash on the disposable camera warming up.
+ August 01, 2007 09:21 PM +
SALT in THE SEA
I'M NOT A JUDGMENTAL BITCH BECAUSE I CAN TELL THE KID HAS A WEIGHT PROBLEM. THAT'S MERELY BEING OBSERVANT.
I AM OBSERVING THAT THIS KID IS FAT.
I AM STATING THAT THIS KID IS FAT.
I AM TELLING YOU OF MY HOPES OF HIM TO TACKLE HIS WEIGHT PROBLEM WITH FAT CAMP.
+ August 01, 2007 09:33 PM +
Again... with the hypocrits in shut the hell up, TX
Then Vivi was just STATING that you should stop typing in capital letters. Dumb ass.
Now I am telling you of my hopes of you getting over your pompous self.
+ August 01, 2007 10:08 PM +
TJ in a plane on the way home
you know what they say...the bigger the letters, the smaller the ****
+ August 01, 2007 10:35 PM +
Lost in in Space Needle
My brothers always use their middle fingers in the picture, but they tend to be subtle and not as blatant as that guy.

Mona Lisa, please don't leave! Hang in there!
+ August 02, 2007 12:20 AM +
Jello in Mold
Frankly, I don't think you have to be a kid to do "stupid" stuff like this. Hell, everyone in my family has at least one picture of them flipping off the camera. My sister still does it and she's pushin’ grandma age.

Don't get me wrong. It's not that my family doesn't have class. They just forget to maintain it whenever a camera is around.
+ August 02, 2007 12:39 AM +
Mickey B in somewhere with her middle finger in the air
1)hahaha Ancient Vivi has my new favorite comment ever. That rocked my day!!

2)Also, apparently I'm stupid and there's something wrong with me, because I flip people off all the time (my friends in a joking manner, not just random strangers lol).

3)I hate it every single time someone uses the j word and doesn't spell it as judgenmental.

4)I always see people bitching about what salt says, but I never know exactly what they're talking about, because personally, when I see all caps I just skim right on by without reading it.
+ August 02, 2007 10:53 AM +
Nikki in OK
Call me racist, I don't care, but I bet he's the ground's keeper fed up with rich camp kids.
+ August 02, 2007 01:09 PM +
mona lisa in the louvre
i am disappointed that assholes who wouldnt know what a sense of humour was if it bit them in the ass thinks its funny to impersonate others. That previous, rude post under my name, is not me.
+ August 02, 2007 01:15 PM +
Mickey B in a state of confusion
Nikki- what does your comment have to do with being racist, or race at all for that matter? I don't get it.
Also, where in OK are ya from? I'm from the OKC area- Norman to be exact. :)
+ August 02, 2007 01:19 PM +
Rob in Los Angeles
Vivi - You forgot 2 coments:
1: I ruined it for everyone
2: Something about Ayn Rand
+ August 02, 2007 05:55 PM +
ITMFA NOW, not in 2009
HEAR, HEAR, Mickey B! (re the "j" word)
My observation is that they are travelling in one fancy bus, prolly a tour bus of sorts, the kind HS marching bands use on longer road trips. I think this shot was taken on the way home from band camp, and the guy with the finger is a young instructor who has had it "up to here" with the little twit who can't keep a beat to save his soul. The twit thinks he's cool cuz he's a drummer, and now, for Chrissake, he's shoving a camera in the instructor's face and the instructor is seconds away from strangling the kid, but knows if he does, he'll have to answer to the parents who think their kid is Buddy Rich. Phuckin' little band geek...So now the twit is laughing so hard he shoots cherry soda out his nose, and it hurts so bad he asks a band mom for an ice pack. She wants to know where the can of soda came from and tells him he must now sit with the band parents for the rest of the trip home. While he whines at the front of the bus, the instructor hides the camera in the seat, where it is found by a clever child the following weekend, taken to camp, then absentmindedly left behind because the camera wasn't his to worry about.
C'mon, people! What was so hard to figure out?
+ August 02, 2007 07:11 PM +
Ancient Vivi in Nashmare

Thank you, Mickey B. We try to maintain standards, you know.

Yes, Rob, you ruined it for everyone by providing thoughtful, informed commentary.

However, I appreciatively consider you to be a veritable fountainhead of information.

Has your epistemology healed yet? That was my least favorite part of pregnancy.
+ August 02, 2007 10:34 PM +
Dallas in PA
Is that Artie Lange! star of Beer League?
+ August 03, 2007 02:52 AM +
Mona Lisa in the louvre
episiotomy?
+ August 03, 2007 08:21 AM +
ITMFA NOW, not in 2009
Mona, I think Vivi is related to Norm Crosby. Perhaps she is teasing us with her mangled English. If it was intentional, I love it. If it wasn't, YIKES! I lob a Thesaurus in her general direction.
+ August 03, 2007 09:37 AM +
JULES in A MOOD
MONA YOU'RE A NURSE!!! AN INCISION IN THE PLACE THAT WAS HURT AND LEAKING ON YOUR BIRTHDAY.
+ August 03, 2007 01:05 PM +
Ancient Vivi in Nashmare
Fountainhead, epistemology = Ayn Rand

Ancient Vivi loves malapropisms. ;-)

OK, I'm on my way to the zoo to see the polo bears now.
+ August 08, 2007 07:41 PM +
Eyes in Gaurd
You know, some people throw up the middle finger in pictures jokingly because they don't really want their picture taken, or they just think it's funny for some reason. You've all done it once or twice.
Well, I think it's clear that this guy is NOT joking. He is genuinely pissed off at whoever it is that is taking his picture. And that fact alone makes this picture humorous.
+ August 17, 2007 05:12 PM +

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