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Alone
Alone
Lydia


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Candid Portraits (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: Portfolio
Camera: Canon EOS-20D
Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 I
Date: Sep 25, 2012
Aperture: 2.0
ISO: 800
Shutter: 1/50
Date Uploaded: Sep 25, 2012

This is my mom.

Isn't she beautiful!? I love her bunches!


She came to our house to celebrate three birthdays. Those are two of her dogs and one of ours...

It was, of course, not posed.

I told her not to look at me as she talked to my kids and my hubby, since she wanted to look and smile at me, of course.

I think she really did forget about me and my camera... she was so intent on the stories my kids were telling.

She's always been great at listening and being interested in their least little interests and stories.


I thought I was shooting life... as she listened to two grandkids and her son-in-law.
And... indeed, I was.

I just didn't realize how poignant this image would be to me as I viewed it afterward.

I need to go see her more... and invite her here more often (although, she's always welcome).

I was terribly shocked when I saw this image.

I ... well... I...

I don't know.


When I am old, will my children think... I "need" to invite "her"... ?

*sigh*

Life. It's good. Even when it's not. But... golly.

This image of mine has rocked my happy world as... today... I see my mom (a cancer survivor)... at the time that I found out that my BFF has Stage Four Cancer.

I. Am. Not. Enough.

I don't think I ever was.


Re:the title: She is not alone in the physical sense. She has the dogs.

But, she is still lonely. Left alone by Humanity... and she tries to fill the void with dogs and wine.


Do you see it now?

(Not that there's anything wrong with dogs or wine... *grin*)

And I'm not actually talking about my mother when I say she's been left behind by Humanity (she hasn't)... or that she's lonely (she's not), or that she drinks wine very often (she doesn't). I'm talking about an anonymous "her"... I think the elderly are often left alone as their family grows up and has stuff of their own.
I see how it happens... it's happened with me. And, to me.





Oma0739cVvGNr6-E.jpg

Statistics
Place: 4 out of 91
Avg (all users): 6.7455
Avg (commenters): 7.8571
Avg (participants): 6.3500
Avg (non-participants): 6.9714
Views since voting: 1987
Views during voting: 220
Votes: 110
Comments: 27
Favorites: 0


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AuthorThread
10/13/2012 07:07:48 AM
Beautiful Lydia, don't be so hard on yourself, your story shows you have many of the same qualities as your mom, empathy, kindness, intelligence and patience. You know how much now, go for it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/11/2012 02:12:11 PM
Really love this one. Well done, Lydia!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/10/2012 09:40:00 AM
Lydia,

Your image and beautifully honest and poignant story really touch me. She reminds me of my mom before she left us.....totally her. The wine, dogs, listening intently to her grandkids and very present. I also feel sadness for many of the elderly that have been left behind and are considered "insignificant". I think of them as being put out to pasture :(.

Thank for this wonderful memory!
Kelli Schmidt

Message edited by author 2012-10-10 09:43:06.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/10/2012 01:52:02 AM
What an achingly gorgeous shot — made all the more so by what you wrote. I love it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/09/2012 10:12:16 PM
She IS beautiful and look at all those furbabies too lol. I love the light and colortone.

Congrats on the HM!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/09/2012 01:14:13 PM
Gorgeous. I need to know how you pp'd this, Lydia. It's magnificent, and perfect for this image. Congrats on the HM. Yes, I know what you mean. I don't get to see my mom but maybe once a year.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/09/2012 10:12:14 AM
Congrats on the HM, great work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/08/2012 04:08:03 PM
Just wonderful, Lydia. Your mom is beautiful and you captured her so well. I miss my mom.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/08/2012 02:43:52 PM
She is beautiful! Congrats on the HM!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/08/2012 11:16:38 AM
So glad for the HM for you, Lydia - made me come back and look more closely. and . . . wow. My only excuse for not giving this a 9 or 10 is out of town all week and FS and Candid Portrait closing on the same day :( Beautiful, just beautiful. The lighting is perfect and the motion blur of the dogs wraps around her like a living shawl. Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/08/2012 11:16:18 AM
Lovely Lydia and nice finish. I had no idea.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/08/2012 10:35:35 AM
oma looks great, are you dutch?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/08/2012 10:31:37 AM
Yes, very poignant, Lydia! You captured an amazing real life soul here! Your gift served you well! Congratulations on this honor!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/08/2012 01:51:32 AM
Yes. Beautiful. She, and the image and especially the sharing of your thoughts.

I see it.
Someone

To cuddle up to at night.
To ask to take the rubbish out.
To make tea for, to drink together.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/08/2012 01:49:04 AM
Very lovely.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/08/2012 01:12:33 AM
Wow Lydia - VERY nicely done. I gave her/you a 9. Congrats!
eta: THREE CHEERS FOR DOGS & WINE! :)

Message edited by author 2012-10-08 01:15:15.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/08/2012 12:40:40 AM
lovely portrait of a lovely woman. congrats Lydia!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/08/2012 12:40:12 AM
Gorgeous... congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/08/2012 12:16:30 AM
congrats! She is beautiful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/08/2012 12:06:49 AM
Congrats to you and your mom.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
10/07/2012 11:52:55 PM
not. good catch.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/07/2012 07:37:24 AM
Extremely visually strong, quality portrait. vwd.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/05/2012 11:26:36 PM
very nice; great post processing except for subject being a tad too centered. gl
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/05/2012 12:09:13 PM
Quite an engaging image, but the title? Hmmmmm.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/02/2012 05:03:03 PM
Not completely alond, she seems to have a lot of dogs... and a glass of wine! Lonely expression though, well captured!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/02/2012 12:10:40 PM
Looks like she has some good friends with her.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/01/2012 01:03:56 AM
Amazing expression. You deserve a ribbon for this work
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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