I have been kind of jaded about shooting close to home..."There is nothing there!" has been my usual cry. In my travels I realized that I have not taken any photos of my elderly mother in a couple of years. Her health is now failing from diabetes and heart disease, and there have been unexpected emergency trips to the hospital. Lately, I have been finding myself shooting a half a dozen shots every week, because it hit me that the way things are going... I don't know how long that will be possible.

In all of your searching for the "great photo" that you know is in you, don't forget those right under your nose. This isn't art, just something that might be rendered even more important by impending events.

Photo 1 Photo 2

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), May 19, 2002

Answers

I love the light, and she has striking looks, but you should post some wider shots which show her in her environment - as well as some that play off those wonderful colors in the background. I'd also like to see some of her with other epressions.

-- John Kantor (jkantor@mindspring.com), May 24, 2002.

Al,

Very true words - thanks for sharing!

-- Kenneth Darling Soerensen (kenneth@darling.dk), May 24, 2002.

Nice photos. Her pose and intense eyes convey strength - she must have some interesting stories to share. Thanks for the reminder - I should be doing the same with my mother.

-- Brad Evans (b-evans@sbcglobal.net), May 25, 2002.

I like the colors and the out-of-focus areas around her head in the first photo. They emphasize the subject and make this a memorable portrait.

-- Chris Marolf (70214.2664@compuserve.com), May 26, 2002.