Читать книгу The Art Within Portrait Photography: A Master Photographer's Revealing and Enlightening Look at Portraiture - Klaus Bohn - Страница 21

My Little Angel

When this new mother came in for her consultation she was already familiar with my procedure because I had photographed her once before. I always start with a consultation first, followed by the photo session and finally a projection appointment that allows us to work together to choose the best image, size and finish. In this instance the finish was her prime interest. During our consultation she indicated that she wanted the image to have an art look. To satisfy this requirement the photo was printed on watercolour paper using Lysonic inks which are known for their longevity and have an estimated life of sixty-five to seventy-five years.

She shared a funny yet true story with me. Being a nurse in Los Angeles her friends and co-workers asked, “Why are you going to Canada? For a vacation?” “No,” she said, “I’m going to see my photographer.” Stunned, they asked, “Why go all the way to Canada?” She said, “Wait until you see the art piece, you will be green with envy.” I don’t know if it was so but I do know that both of us loved the feeling we got from looking at the finished piece.

Let’s look at this photograph together and see if it means more to us than a picture, perhaps reaching beyond the barrier of a photographic print to an artistic print and even a piece of art. First we may feel the impact and yet a gentle, soft and tender impression radiates from the image. Truly every mother can feel and relate to this and we can extend this to every human being with a heart, in their own way moved with feeling.

I decided that a warm black and white would express the overall story in a way that colour could not. By eliminating the colour it forces the viewer not only to observe the natural beauty but to see beyond it and enter into the story. In this manner by eliminating what would or could interfere, each viewer is allowed to exercise their own emotion.

The down cast eyes, perhaps she is looking at her baby girl. The baby is fast asleep in the mother’s gentle and protective arms, a truly safe place. What an image of love. It can’t be expressed in any better way; a trusting child within a complete circle of life... life begets life.

Left to right composition makes it easy for the viewer to enter into the photograph and the circular design soothes the viewer to study the image a little longer. The Mother’s eyes are in the right thirds, a most powerful composition location; the golden mean to strengthen her role in child rearing. The strength of a mother can never be underestimated. In quiet solitude there is a feeling of movement by the noticeable diagonal composition in the photograph as shown in the work print with lines to help you see why I cropped and used space as I did. I love the V-shape in the image as it suggests a tight bond in the crook of the mother’s arm and the circle around the baby’s face and clinched fist as if she was hanging on for dear life. The gentleness of the mother’s expression tells us all we need to know about her feelings as a tender loving mother. The top left space gives us breathing room to view what was captured in a split second.

It was a wonderful honour when the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria in British Columbia displayed this image along side many great masterpieces. The privilege of a photograph is that we can revisit the image over and over again, especially when displayed in a proper size to be enjoyed by all onlookers, a joy to behold.