I spent last week in France. I was participating in a photography workshop with some extraordinary photographers from around the world. It was hosted by Master Photographer Sue Bryce. I will write more about that, later. Right now, I want to write about a thing I tried called Flytographer. The first day there, I was on my own. I explored the neighborhood of Montmartre in Paris. I discovered Flytographer in an online post at The New York Times. They have photographers in cities all over the world who will take your travel photos. They will book for anywhere from half an hour to all day. It’s very easy—you choose the photographer whose style you like, and then book them online. Krystal met me in Montmartre. She was friendly, funny, and easy-going. She showed me the most charming and interesting sites, where she took photos of me that I love. Below are a few of my favorites.
You can read France, Parts II & III here http://maundymitchell.com/france-part-ii/ and here http://maundymitchell.com/personal-travel-photos/
Hand-Feeding Chickadees
This post is just for fun! One of the things I love to do is to hand-feed the birds around my house. It took me about two years to train the chickadees to eat from my hand. This year they even started to trust others.
The photo of me (bottom right) is courtesy of Duane Cross.
Scars, Part II Patsy
“When I was a child, I thought fire was intriguing. I wanted to be with it… I was five when my sister and I were playing with matches and my pajamas caught fire…”
“I was so young when it happened, that my body grew around the scars. Once, when I was still a child, I asked my mother to make a two-piece bathing suit for me. She did it. People would stare, especially other kids, but I would just gently say to them, ‘they’re just scars.’”
“My scars are a gift from God to be able to help others. I don’t mind if people stare, and when children do, I ask their parents if it’s okay to share my story. I don’t want this to happen to anyone else, but if it does, I hope they’ll have the courage not to hide. “
You can see Part I of this project here: http://maundymitchell.com/scars/
You can see Part III here: http://maundymitchell.com/scars-part-iii/
Part IV is here: http://maundymitchell.com/scars-part-iv/
My Little Valentine
This is my son, David. He’s nine years old and he had plenty of opinions about the creative direction of his shoot. He spent the weekend making his outfit on his own, which he named the “Mega Shock.” Then he said, “Mom, I’m ready for a photo for my Valentine’s cards now. Make me look cool!”
It was like photographing a celebrity–he gave me about two minutes. With a quick set up, we did this shot in our living room.
The Unseen – County Home Portraits, Part XIV
This post marks the end of a chapter. This project began in the fall of 2014, when I noticed that photos of the elderly are typically passed over in favor of attractive young people and children. You can read more on that here, with part one of a fourteen-part series.
I have been regularly visiting the Belknap Country Nursing home in New Hampshire, with the intention of capturing something special about each person. I have visited the nursing home 17 times, making more than 200 portraits. It was important to be able to return many times. Scheduling was often complicated, also finding opportunities while I was there. Everyone has different moods on different days, and the elderly sometimes have irregular sleep patterns and sometimes dementia.
“How do you want to be photographed?” It’s a question I ask everyone I photograph. I found that many people could not answer, so I always started with dignity. I did not try to change anyone’s mood, but tried to recognize when they were ready to share something of themselves.
“My mother made this afghan for me.” – Irene, 96, who said no to portraits every time I saw her, until the last day I visited.
Doug. “I’m not feeling well, but you can take my picture.”
Bertha loves to sew, crochet and knit. At 95, she still teaches a knitting class.
What’s next? I am reaching out to some other facilities, and am looking at continuing this work with other demographics of elderly. I would also like to present this work in a public exhibition, and I am exploring possibilities for that.
Thank you to the many people who helped with this project and supported me along the way. Thank you to Annette Griffis, social worker at Belknap County Nursing Home, who coordinated this project, and spent many hours helping. Thank you to the staff of the BCNH, who always welcomed me and went out of their way to help. Thank you to my assistants, Kree Woolley, Mandy Gennaro, and Abi Sutcliffe. Thank you to my husband, Matt Kizer, who supports every idea I have (except for my idea of having miniature donkeys!). Thank you to the families and guardians of the nursing home residents for trusting me to make these portraits, and thank you to everyone who follows this project. I appreciate your interest.
To see parts I through XIII, click the links below:
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-ii/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-country-home-portraits-part-iii/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-iv/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-v/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-vi/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-vii/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-viii/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-ix/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-x/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-xi/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-xii/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-xiii/
The Unseen – County Home Portraits, Part XIII
This year-long personal project is nearing its conclusion. Last week, I visited the nursing home for the next-to-last time. Driving home, I tend to reflect on the visits. The way I work there has evolved. I no longer bring in big lighting setups and backdrops. I spend longer with each resident than when I started. I listen more and ask more questions. If someone can’t talk, I may hold their hand. I help fix hair and straighten a necklace. I tell her she looks beautiful. This time, one thing someone said made me realize the most important thing about this project.
Joan: “I feel so important. I feel so special!”
Some of the residents here may not even remember any of this tomorrow, but what I learned is that the most important thing I can do is to make someone feel important and special. And in the process, I make a portrait of her for all of time.
Walking the halls of the nursing home, you often see people in their rooms, like this. But this isn’t who they are. You can only find that out by entering the room and connecting with the person in some way.
Althea worked at Laconia City Hall. She writes poetry. She told me about her children and grandchildren.
Mary: “My daughter brought me this pumpkin.”
Mary: “Do you mind if I tell you a dirty joke?”
Me: “Okay.”
Mary: “A white horse fell in the mud!”
Marjorie: “I’m a part of The Pothole Group. Five of us started it. We’re all here together. We get together to remind ourselves that being forgetful is just a bump in the road…well, until it becomes a sinkhole!”
To read how this project got started, click here:
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits/
To see parts II through XII, click the links below:
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-ii/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-country-home-portraits-part-iii/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-iv/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-v/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-vi/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-vii/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-viii/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-ix/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-x/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-xi/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-xii/
The Unseen – County Home Portraits, Part XII
Last month, I spent another afternoon at the Belknap County Nursing home. I was there to continue work on this year-long personal project, which I began last November. (See bottom of page for links to Parts I-XI).
Leo
“I like it here.”
“But I haven’t seen my wife in a year. She lives in Concord. We have no way to see each other.” [Concord is about a 40-minute drive]
Mary
“Are you able to straighten your head for a second?”
Lorraine & Phil
“How long have you been married?”
Lorraine: “We’re not married.”
Phil: “Fifty-five years.”
Anna
“I like to be outside. I’m 85. I don’t worry about skin cancer.”
“I look good in hats.”
Jane and Nat
Nat: “We’ve been married 65 years.”
Jane: “He’s my love!”
Nat: “Every year I went to Saudi Arabia to hunt with the King.”
“Are you done taking pictures yet?”
“Do you want me to be?”
“No, that’s okay.”
Jane: “I love him so much.”
(I also photographed Jane for Part I. Link below.)
To read how this project got started, click here:
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits/
To see parts II through XI, click the links below:
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-ii/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-country-home-portraits-part-iii/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-iv/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-v/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-vi/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-vii/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-viii/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-ix/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-x/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-xi/
Prague & Vienna
Earlier this summer, I travelled with my husband to Prague, Czech Republic, and Vienna, Austria. The trip was partly for work, but we did get to take a little time to be tourists. We had been to Prague before–it’s our favorite European city–and we loved to return. The people are welcoming, the food is wonderful, and architecture stops me every ten steps! It is also quite inexpensive, especially compared with New York, London, or Vienna.
First, I photographed for the Prague Quadrennial, a massive international design event for performing arts. You can see some of those photos here: http://pq15.usitt.org/around-the-pq-hungarian-exhibit-donor-for-promotheus/
In addition, I did two portrait sessions. You can see selections from the first one here http://maundymitchell.com/fereshteh-a-portrait-session-in-prague/
You can see selections from the second portrait session here http://maundymitchell.com/afsoon-a-portrait-session-in-prague/
Pigeons are everywhere, but I happen to like them!
Dogs go everywhere in Prague. They walk, they wait in coffee shops, and they watch their owners try on shoes.
Art is everywhere in Prague. We watched the sculpture below for ages–each section of it rotates back and forth, in a seemingly random fashion, until the whole head lines up again in different directions. It’s brilliant!
We discovered a mobile app that allows people to get a taxi without speaking Czech, and without even knowing where they are. We knew where we were here–this is the National Theatre, one of our favorite places.
We said goodbye for now to Prague and took a train to Vienna, which took about four hours.
This is the Staddtempel, the only synagogue to survive Nazi bombings in WWII. Ninety-three others were destroyed.
We had such a short time in Vienna, we decided to take an afternoon tour with a horse-and-buggy driver. Our guide was Peter, who also let me make his portrait.
The building in the center is where the President lives.
Boy With a Blue Guitar | NH Portrait Photographer
This little guy is now seven years old. He lives in the Bronx in NYC. This is his second summer staying with our family in New Hampshire through the Fresh Air Fund.
Since 1877, the Fresh Air Fund has been providing summer experiences to almost 2 million New York City children who live in communities in need.
I made this portrait in my garage, using a black V-flat (two 8’ x 4’ foam core panels, taped together), one reflector, and an Ice Light on a boom.
Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 85mm 1.2 lens, ISO 800, 1/100 at f 2.8
The Unseen – County Home Portraits, Part XI
Could a greater miracle take place
than for us to look through each other’s eyes
for an instant?-Henry David Thoreau
I spent Monday morning at the Belknap County Nursing home. I was there to continue work on this year-long personal project, which I began last November.
This is Jim, who worked as a machinist and a fire fighter. He also volunteered in the Salvation Army.
Audrey and Sheldon share a room at the nursing home. They’ve been married for 68 years.
“What kind of birds are out there?”
“Regular ones.”
“Let me just figure out how I can put the two of you together in this small space.”
Audrey: “I’ll sit on his lap.”
Sheldon: “…you will?”
For Georgiana’s portraits, I taped a sheer curtain on her window and then shot through cream-colored tulle for a soft, diffused, almost antique look.
I learned that Marie, who I photographed in March, passed away last month at the age of 101.
To read how this project got started, click here:
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits/
To see parts II through X, click the links below:
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-ii/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-country-home-portraits-part-iii/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-iv/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-v/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-vi/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-vii/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-viii/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-ix/
http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-x/
To read Part XII: http://maundymitchell.com/the-unseen-county-home-portraits-part-xii/