per.spec.tive: a point of view, an interpretation

Years ago, my husband and I gave my father a simple camera. And he, who knew nothing about photography, loved to document the things that touched him…my mother walking ahead of him on a snowy day; his granddaughter whooshing down a slide; the devastation a tornado left in its wake after it tore through his hometown; the spot near the creek where he and my mother picnicked every fall on the anniversary of their first date.

I learned firsthand the impact of one simple photograph several years after my father’s death. Upon finding his camera stuck under piles of this and that, then having the roll of film developed; I saw his final shot.

In the late stages of cancer, and standing on his front porch because he could no longer walk the stairs to the driveway with our family, my father took his last photograph…a final glimpse of me and my family, pulling out of the woodsy drive-taking us half-a-country away... around the curve, down the hill, out-of-sight, out-of-reach.

The profound significance of my father's perspective remains after more than 20 years.

In memory of my parents, and as part of a 2015 Make a Difference Day Project for residents of assisted living and nursing homes, I created the video, "Common Ground" which focuses on my Lafayette, Indiana photography. The video was provided to facility residents throughout Lafayette.

There is a quote that says, "What you see depends not only on what you look at, but also, where you look from." I hope you might find a fresh perspective or two from among the places and things that intrigue me. Thank you for taking the time to look at my per.spec.tive!