The obligation of posing... Close-up
Apr 3, 2012 18:30:15 #
This is a series taken of a young woman, year 1993?. I was asked by a friend of mine to take her picture, so I did.
I did only close ups and there is reason for that. About a year earlier she was in car accident caused by her drunken husband. He divorced her two months before I took the pictures, leaving her with a child that was 5 at the time. Common hard-luck story. Problem is, he was uninjured in the accident and she became quadriplegic. The nine months or so they were still together, he was running after other women as she was "ugly".
Now that the background story is out, this is what I came out with. Ambient light from a low window, no flash, no reflector.
I did only close ups and there is reason for that. About a year earlier she was in car accident caused by her drunken husband. He divorced her two months before I took the pictures, leaving her with a child that was 5 at the time. Common hard-luck story. Problem is, he was uninjured in the accident and she became quadriplegic. The nine months or so they were still together, he was running after other women as she was "ugly".
Now that the background story is out, this is what I came out with. Ambient light from a low window, no flash, no reflector.
Catherine, first shot
"Look outside"
"Look down"
"Look at me"
Apr 3, 2012 18:35:21 #
Why is this in main photography vs photo gallery?
Simple, this is an occasion to speak about taking pictures of heavily disabled folks and how gorgeous they can become, if we only pay attention to them.
Now, your images and background stories on them.
This is not a C&C post nor an appreciation thread. This is a 'teaching' thread, if one call call it that.
Simple, this is an occasion to speak about taking pictures of heavily disabled folks and how gorgeous they can become, if we only pay attention to them.
Now, your images and background stories on them.
This is not a C&C post nor an appreciation thread. This is a 'teaching' thread, if one call call it that.
Apr 3, 2012 18:37:46 #
MsJ
Loc: Northern Indiana
Ok, first my heart is broken for her. She is beautiful! Cannot tell anything is different about her. I hope your pictures proved to her how beautiful she is. You did a fantastic job, EW! You should be proud of these! Thank you for sharing this.
Apr 3, 2012 18:43:26 #
The idea is not to tell me what I did or did not do but to give... or share the idea that photography can be a tool to... rebuild someone's ego/life? (or something like that)
Meaning if photography can be a therapy tool as a hobby, it can also be a beneficial tool when you use it with a purpose.
Meaning if photography can be a therapy tool as a hobby, it can also be a beneficial tool when you use it with a purpose.
Apr 3, 2012 19:22:15 #
My story is not as sad as yours. But here goes. I work in a retirement complex. At some time during the year I make it a point to go take a portrait of each one of the residents. We have a hair solon on site, and the lady gets them all duded up for the shot. And for free! I then frame it and give it to them. I also go take their birthday picture every year. It seems to raise their sprits and they all love them. Most give them to their kids. My oldest model right now is 103 years old. And I have 26 pictures of her on her birthday.
I should say I take care of 135 apartments. Some are couples, so I have to hustle some times to get them all done. I know they look forward to me coming.
Erv
I should say I take care of 135 apartments. Some are couples, so I have to hustle some times to get them all done. I know they look forward to me coming.
Erv
Apr 3, 2012 21:07:50 #
MsJ
Loc: Northern Indiana
English_Wolf wrote:
The idea is not to tell me what I did or did not do but to give... or share the idea that photography can be a tool to... rebuild someone's ego/life? (or something like that)
Meaning if photography can be a therapy tool as a hobby, it can also be a beneficial tool when you use it with a purpose.
Meaning if photography can be a therapy tool as a hobby, it can also be a beneficial tool when you use it with a purpose.
I understand you didn't do it for praise or attention but it touched my soul and I have to acknowledge that! Using photography "with a purpose"...OMG that never occurred to me. Why? That opens up a whole new world for me that I really want to put some thought into. Why have I never thought of that before?
Apr 3, 2012 21:15:30 #
MsJ
Loc: Northern Indiana
Erv wrote:
My story is not as sad as yours. But here goes. I ... (show quote)
Great idea! I'm going to be making a list of ways I use photography to make a difference in my life as well as others.
Apr 3, 2012 21:45:43 #
One of the other ways I use my camera to help someone is to take their picture, to help them find a home! I take the pictures at 3 of our shelters for dogs and cats. And just about anything that walks, crawls or flies. With the economy in the shape it is in, a lot of folks find they can no longer support their pets. Very sad. But rewarding for me and the animals. That's how I got Sammy!
Erv
Erv
Apr 3, 2012 21:48:46 #
Apr 3, 2012 21:59:00 #
Apr 3, 2012 23:04:51 #
Great Photos. Sad story but well told with the photos with it. I for one applaud you for doing this. Too many people thing wrongly about the elderly or disabled as I have seen it first hand. Please keep up the great work.
Apr 3, 2012 23:17:45 #
I have a friend that was in a car accident too. When he was 18 years old and just graduated High School and he was hit by a Semi-truck. He's paraplegic now but that doesn't stop him. It's nothing special, just a snapshot but here he is in his Jeep Cherokee out 4x4ing with us!
Apr 4, 2012 06:45:21 #
Where would this fit in with a photographer that has just lost a loved one and can't find the motivation to even pick up a camera much less take photos ? Don't mean to sound selfish but it is what it is. Help !!!!!!!
Apr 4, 2012 06:50:41 #
Very nicely done. I had a similar situation back in my film days, but it was not caused by an accident, my subject (a young woman in her 20's) had a brain tumor and after removal it left her left side of her fase paralyzed and sunken in. She wanted a portrait to send to her parents in California. I set up the lighting to highlight her right side of her face which was slightly looking left and in a dreamy appearance. The only other light I used was a hair light accentuating on the right side and she was sitting far from the backdrop. In those days I used National Color Lab to do my developing and asked them to retouch the left side of her face to make the image symmetrical (which they did a wonderful job retouching). The picture turned out fantastic and when I presented it to the young woman she started to cry and I thought I did something wrong, the tears were tears of joy for she said that is what she actually looked like before the surgery and she was so grateful it brought tears to my eyes. It is wonderful when we can do that for another person.
English_Wolf wrote:
Why is this in main photography vs photo gallery?
Simple, this is an occasion to speak about taking pictures of heavily disabled folks and how gorgeous they can become, if we only pay attention to them.
Now, your images and background stories on them.
This is not a C&C post nor an appreciation thread. This is a 'teaching' thread, if one call call it that.
Simple, this is an occasion to speak about taking pictures of heavily disabled folks and how gorgeous they can become, if we only pay attention to them.
Now, your images and background stories on them.
This is not a C&C post nor an appreciation thread. This is a 'teaching' thread, if one call call it that.
Apr 4, 2012 07:17:11 #
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