By Scott Shephard
This is my 5th and final post for the facebook "Black and White Challenge" I've been contributing to. I love black and white photos and I have many in my collection. I should tell you that there is no particular logic to way I've chosen the photos I've posted this week. I open my photo browsing software and from the thousands of photos that appear as thumbnails, something jumps out.
Today, this 2004 photo of my aunt Gladys called me. Of course, I have a deep, emotional tie to Gladys and so a portrait of her, taken late in her life, has considerable meaning to me. But I realize that to a stranger, a portrait may have no meaning at all, though it may help you get a glimpse of a person's character. And even better, it may make you wonder. At best, it may make you think of your own aunts. And uncles. And all the other wise and loving people who have populated your life and helped make you the person you are.
Gladys died in 2010 at the age of 97. Deb and I traveled to Olympia, Washington, to help honor her life and I spoke at her funeral. For those who might be curious, here's part of what I said
“Throughout her entire life, she was an amazing woman. She was organized, decisive, caring and deeply involved in her church. She was a driving force that even time and sickness couldn’t slow down. Diagnosed with cancer in her 70s, Gladys scheduled her treatments early in the morning so they wouldn’t conflict with her home visits to shut-ins and “real” sick people, as she liked to refer to them.
In 2004, Deb and I visited her and we watched in amazement as she stood behind her walker in the day room of her assisted living center and, at the age of 91, danced the Charleston. We laughed and applauded.
If any angel has a special place in Heaven, Gladys does. And she is no doubt entertaining all the other angels by dancing the Charleston.”
Canon 20D 1/25s f/4.5 ISO400 50mm