Now I am an Orphan at my Mom's Grave
My dad passed away on Aug 1, 2019. My mom passed away on July 13, 2021 and I then became an orphan. After her funeral in Maryland we had her body transported to California to be interred next to her sister. Today I traveled from Atlanta GA to Mission Hills CA to visit my mom's grave as a point of closure. So many times I remember a look, tone of voice, touch of my parents hand, and realize how much I miss them.
My mom's eulogy is here:
https://susansunshine.com/eulogy
My dad's tributes are here:
https://musicwithmike.com/live
Assignment
Photography is drawing with light and this week's Silhouette challenge firmly shows us that. A silhouette is about bringing together contrasts of a well-lit background against a dark subject, making the subject's shape and outline as the main point of focus. A silhouette balances what the viewer sees alongside the darker toned facets of the subject that are intentionally kept hidden from the light. Silhouettes are a great way to tell a story while leaving it up to the imagination of the viewer - there aren't visible features to express emotion, so your viewer will fill in details depending on the context of the image - use this to direct your viewer's line of thinking - is there happiness being depicted ? or perhaps tranquility ? could it be something to do with loss ? Maybe it's just self-expression. Make the image work with a bit of considered planning. This is a lesson in exposure, composition and creativity all coming together. While silhouettes are commonly shot in the day and at golden / blue hours, you can absolutely shoot silhouettes at night too. This will work best when the object being shot is recognizable through their well-defined shape and outline - a blob isn't instantly recognizable for what it actually is. Portraits, Still Life, Architecture and Nature typically make for good silhouette genres. Silhouettes can often convey some kind of mystic story. By leaving the details in the dark, the story becomes compelling and the viewer is more engaged with the picture. Let's see some of those fantastic photos this week too, my friends.
