Dementia Through My Lens

I am deeply greatfull to the craft of photography. It has supported over the last 20 months in documenting the life of my mother.

She suffers with Vascular Dementia.

With each passing day, this debilitating condition has robbed her of memories and taken the woman who raised me.

I have not been trained to be a Carer - I have chosen this out of loyalty and love. This addition to my portfolio of skills teaches me new disciplines ever day.

The one thing I bring to this sad period of my life is my skill as an image creator. I have chosen to document my mothers life to preserve her beauty and dignity in 35mm.

I have been studying Lighting - On Camera and Off Camera with various modifiers.

It’s a complex and yet magical addition to my photography. It has supported me in understanding the behaviour of ambient light and how the two light sources can play nicely together.

This image is deliberately underexposed to allow the natural daylight to add some nuance to the eligibility in the shadows.

When I add my Light Off Camera in a big SOFTBOX, it brings up beautifully the detail on mums face.

This collaboration of two different light sources is the heart beat of a well crafted image with neither light source dominating the scene.

Dementia Through My Lens is my respite. It’s my healing meditation.

My mother has gone.

Once an Adult, twice a child.

I am the mother to the woman who raised me.

It’s The Long Good Bye.😥

Thanks for stopping by.