This image is not cliche' because it tells a story both covertly and overtly. When I first started this project, I had a specific intent to honor my Grandparents' memory. As the project evolved by realizing how my mother, aunts and uncles couldn't go unnoticed because of their involvement with my grandparents, it evoked more thoughts and memories, which led to more pictures and personal effects. My family on a whole was often a jumbled mess, but as I stop and remember each of these people I loved dearly, I cannot deny that each helped determine the person I am today. This picture started with many, many items in the background, many beautiful, such as the tapestry my Uncle Sid brought home from India for his mother, where he had served in the Merle's Marauder's, or Uncle Lefty, POW in Germany who insisted on keeping the most obnoxious Chihuahua's you've ever seen. Grandma's beloved poppies and images of her parents who opposed the marriage of her to my Grandfather. As I realized I could not realistically fit everything in the image I wanted, it dawned on me that in itself spoke volumes. To truly appreciate anyone you love, you must cherish every moment you have with them. Savor it, examine it, and never let it just become part of a picture so big, you forget to appreciate the small details. As I reflect on all of the people and items both seen and unseen in this photograph , it reminds me each one has a story to tell and their stories will always be a strand in the fabric of my life.
No comments:
Post a Comment