the emotion of photography*

what is photography, if not an emotional connection between the artist and the viewer?

Dad

i would recognise that head of silvery white curly hair anywhere - hair which i inherited. i would also recognise that set of his shoulders anywhere - shoulders which have borne us as a family - shoulders which speak of courage, determination and fortitude, traits i hope i have inherited. his hands are clasped behind his back, which means he is thinking deeply and observing keenly while he looks out over the water at Sunset Point in Goa. the solitary tree in the background reflects him in many ways - his lack of need to conform, his belief in himself and his principles, him being true to himself - characteristics i am growing to recognise in myself. i took this picture with his old Canon QLFtB which he gave me a few months ago - he used to take pictures of me when i was younger with it. how time has moved on. of all the pictures i have taken over the last two years, it is to this one that i feel the deepest emotional connection - here i am both the artist and the viewer, but most importantly, the daughter.

*dedicated to my friend who felt this way looking at some of my photographs and humbly taught me one of the most fundamental things about this art which i love dearly