Carmela
I have heard photographers say that their most favorite photo is the one they will be taking tomorrow. For me, this photo of Carmela, at 97 years of age, taken just over a week ago, on March 23, 2015, with a Nikon F4s using Kodak Portra 400 film, is undoubtedly my most favorite one.
Not because this image reflects any photographic skills (or lack thereof) -- in fact, I have not used a 35mm film camera in over 20 years -- but because of the subject in the image. Carmela is perhaps the most graceful and fascinating person I have met and it was a treat to capture her beautiful face and deep glance on film. Seeing this image today for the first time (there is no immediate gratification with film) brought tears to my eyes, something that no digital image has managed to do thus far.
I had been looking forward to traveling to the Dominican Republic and visiting Carmela for several months and I had already made plans to bring my D610 to take a few digital images of her during my visit. Shooting film was the last thing on my mind until I happened to browse through a few film images on Flickr and the sense of nostalgia was so overwhelming that I felt compelled to go out and buy an old film camera to use with my existing Nikkor lenses. I lost my F3 while dining at a restaurant on City Island in New York and the F4s, though heavy and a bit bulky, seemed like a perfect fit.
I bought a pack of lesser quality film to play around with but, to photograph Carmela, I made sure that I brought along some professional rolls of film. I was pleasantly surprised. Although I had never used an F4, my new 20-year-old camera performed with excellence and the results of the Kodak Portra 400 film did not disappoint me.
I had a wonderful time at Carmela's home on the northwestern part of the Dominican Republic, along the Yuna river, and I was treated to some of her favorite foods with flavors as compelling as the colors and appearance on film images. At 97, she is still witty and has an impressive ability to remember. I am humbled by her ability to recall the names of the members of her extensive family and friends. I truly believe that God has blessed her with a long life and health as a result of her selfless love and kindness. She remains the matriarch of her family and, despite her lack of any formal education and inability to read or write, she was able to raise seven children with love, character, and integrity, under the most humble of circumstances; to care for most of her grandchildren as four of her sons and daughters moved to the United States to pursue the American dream; and to touch and continue to influence the lives of her great grandchildren.
During our conversation, she acknowledged with strength and some degree of sadness that she had run a long race that will soon be over. But she was confident and reassured by the fact that she had so many children, grand children, and great grandchildren who love her and are committed to her care and well being.
Carmela
I have heard photographers say that their most favorite photo is the one they will be taking tomorrow. For me, this photo of Carmela, at 97 years of age, taken just over a week ago, on March 23, 2015, with a Nikon F4s using Kodak Portra 400 film, is undoubtedly my most favorite one.
Not because this image reflects any photographic skills (or lack thereof) -- in fact, I have not used a 35mm film camera in over 20 years -- but because of the subject in the image. Carmela is perhaps the most graceful and fascinating person I have met and it was a treat to capture her beautiful face and deep glance on film. Seeing this image today for the first time (there is no immediate gratification with film) brought tears to my eyes, something that no digital image has managed to do thus far.
I had been looking forward to traveling to the Dominican Republic and visiting Carmela for several months and I had already made plans to bring my D610 to take a few digital images of her during my visit. Shooting film was the last thing on my mind until I happened to browse through a few film images on Flickr and the sense of nostalgia was so overwhelming that I felt compelled to go out and buy an old film camera to use with my existing Nikkor lenses. I lost my F3 while dining at a restaurant on City Island in New York and the F4s, though heavy and a bit bulky, seemed like a perfect fit.
I bought a pack of lesser quality film to play around with but, to photograph Carmela, I made sure that I brought along some professional rolls of film. I was pleasantly surprised. Although I had never used an F4, my new 20-year-old camera performed with excellence and the results of the Kodak Portra 400 film did not disappoint me.
I had a wonderful time at Carmela's home on the northwestern part of the Dominican Republic, along the Yuna river, and I was treated to some of her favorite foods with flavors as compelling as the colors and appearance on film images. At 97, she is still witty and has an impressive ability to remember. I am humbled by her ability to recall the names of the members of her extensive family and friends. I truly believe that God has blessed her with a long life and health as a result of her selfless love and kindness. She remains the matriarch of her family and, despite her lack of any formal education and inability to read or write, she was able to raise seven children with love, character, and integrity, under the most humble of circumstances; to care for most of her grandchildren as four of her sons and daughters moved to the United States to pursue the American dream; and to touch and continue to influence the lives of her great grandchildren.
During our conversation, she acknowledged with strength and some degree of sadness that she had run a long race that will soon be over. But she was confident and reassured by the fact that she had so many children, grand children, and great grandchildren who love her and are committed to her care and well being.