The Photo that Inspired Me

Next Monday I have been invited to an art group 'artsMAD' to show some of my images and talk about what inspires me.  Well this is the photo that made me love photography.


It was taken by my Uncle on an old black and white film, 1970's camera.  (I've since had the original 6"x4" print blown up and framed.


Why do I love this photo?  It captures my Mother and me,  and a time, place and mood.  It's not a geeky staring at the camera photo, with a fake smile, dressed up to the nines, in some artificial setting.  It is how I saw my Mother, a cool lady who doesn't worry that her little girl is dressed in boy shorts and going around topless.  I remember that ring she wore vividly, the state owned house we lived in, the neighbours.  Every time I look at this photo I can hear the Pink Floyd music playing, smell  incense and wood polish, and see the roses in the garden that my Uncle obsessed over.


This is the photography I love.  Photos that capture more than what a person looks like, that tell a story, evoke a memory, that make you smile every time you look at it.


Calico Jo
www.calicojo.co.nz