My filing cabinets in my oficina are loaded with photographs I started taking in 1958. There are actors, actresses (I am old fashioned) politicians, hoods, producers, ecdysiasts (many), boxers, directors, punk musicians and musicians of every category and of course lots of family photographs.
As a rosarian I am constantly asked, “What is your favourite rose? My answer usually is, “It depends on the day or the week.” I am constantly asked, “Who is the most famous person you have ever photographed?” The answer is similar to the one of the rose.
But of late I believe that I may have an unmatched talent (yes! I am boasting!) in my photographs of children. The children were my two daughters when young and my two granddaughters before they became women.
I have written several blogs as to why I do not ever make these children smile. I was inspired by the two English 19th century photographers, the Reverend Dodgson and Julia Margaret Cameron. They both photographed an unsmiling Alice Liddell.
Today, May 3, 2023, in the turmoil of a flooded house (read my May 4 blog) I was looking over my digital files of family photographs. I have always considered this portrait of Rebecca posing with a blue agave in Queen Elizabeth Park’s Bloedel Conservatory one of my most iconic portrait of her. In that family file I found that completely different second shot. Because she is wearing the same blouse it was obviously taken minutes before or after the first one.
For me the quality of the one with her hair up just proves that taking pictures of children is my mettle.
