bluechameleon
faith and hope
Posted by bluechameleon (Vancouver, Canada) on 7 September 2009 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.
“As we grow older, it becomes difficult to just believe. It's not that we don't want to, but too much has happened that we just can't.”
-- Unknown Author
All Rights Reserved © Sharon Wish
Vote on The 2009 Photoblog Awards
flyingwind风飞扬 from Bridgetown, Barbados
Chinese?
Good proverbs together with your thoughts in the capture! Unlimited stars for it!
7 Sep 2009 5:08am
@flyingwind风飞扬: I'm not sure if the quote is a Chinese proverb, as it was credited as author unknown. Thank you for your comment and stars. Cheers!
k@ from Paris, France
Love how she holds her hands tight in prayer, and the tension in her eyes... I don't know if it's more difficult, I guess some (other) things are simpler too, because nothing more to prove, but your photo & the quote are thought-provoking, and that's my fav. Thks, Sharon, and have a sweet week (I also love how her soul inhabits the corner of the image)
7 Sep 2009 5:11am
Erika from Espoo, Finland
Very beautiful portrait. Sad, in some way, but beautiful.
7 Sep 2009 5:27am
Paco Díaz from Palma de Mallorca, Spain
I like the concentrated expression of this woman, and the composition in the left side.
Good portrait, indeed.
7 Sep 2009 6:04am
NaveenBachwani from Bombay (Mumbai), India
So much emotion in just one frame... As always, the title and description perfectly complement the picture!
7 Sep 2009 6:07am
Nina from Haute Loire, France
A beautiful portrait as a prayer ... she tries to believe it!
7 Sep 2009 6:11am
beanow from Warsaw, Poland
You stopped in the frame this woman emotions wonderfully...
Really masterly picture. Congrats!
7 Sep 2009 6:31am
Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand
A wonderful and moving portrait! Brilliant!
7 Sep 2009 6:38am
Fritsch from Berlin, Germany
"With a steady heart / And a steady love / My hands keep shakin' / Like a storm" (Malcolm Holcombe)
A thoughtful & pristine moment. She looks as if she's all by herself & this kind of melancholy makes me want to grow older immediately because faces like this are the most interesting. I will stop by your house then for the one & only photograph, Sharon. A true & great picture, my friend! All the best & safe travels, Fritsch.
7 Sep 2009 7:08am
Angel from Madrid, Spain
How long without visiting your blog. I feel the delay. But around my vacations I like to happen through your house and to see so magnificent photographies. Brilliant the expression that it has captured in this taking. Excellent the black and white one.
A warm greeting
I already am of return.
7 Sep 2009 7:12am
Dulcie from Danville, CA, United States
Such an expressive portrait and as always excellent B&W! Glad you caught this one!
7 Sep 2009 7:26am
Aurore from Paris, France
Moving portrait (imploring eyes/hands), i like how you frame it with this blurred shadow on the right (her past, her soul...) Just deeply beautiful.
7 Sep 2009 9:28am
zOOm from Paris, France
Oh yes, she surely need better days. A very poignant portrait Sharon.
7 Sep 2009 9:47am
LB from Portugal
Great capture!
After a while, good to see that you keep your touch.
7 Sep 2009 10:33am
Mario Jean [MADOC PHOTO] from Montréal, Canada
Deep emotions shines through this intense expression. Strong portrait, really, especially in that gorgeous light.
7 Sep 2009 11:59am
Darietto from Milano, Italy
A moment full of meanings and feelings! It's impossible to give a technical review choose not to consider all the emotions that this portrait gives! Really well done
7 Sep 2009 1:15pm
Hiro from Kyoto, Japan
Nice telephoto shot. White background makes her eye-catching.
7 Sep 2009 1:17pm
Tracey from Maryland, United States
Excellent portrait! How I would love to know what she praying for.
7 Sep 2009 1:18pm
Laura Abigail from Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
amazing picture, great expression and very nice contrasts!
7 Sep 2009 2:18pm
hugo poon from hong kong, Hong Kong
What an incredibly delicate portraiture that strikes the deepest chord of sympathy and emotion! "Faith and hope"? Not too sure... though I could feel very strongly, sadly, that she's helplessly on her own and it's been far too 'heavy' and far too long for her... This is real photography Sharon! We're so lucky to be able to see (and feel) your work!
7 Sep 2009 2:19pm
@hugo poon: Wow Hugo, thank you so very much! She really is so full of emotion and I have not a clue what was weighing on her mind at this moment. It was just a poignant moment...thanks again for your kind words.
Polydactyle from Montreal, Canada
Emotion is central to this photo. It is rare to capture as many feelings in one shot. You have achieved what I am unable to do and I am a little jealous :( (Bravo and 5 stars definitely!!!
7 Sep 2009 2:31pm
LESLIE from norwich, United Kingdom
Beautifully taken portrait Sharon, full of emotion & a great title to match.
7 Sep 2009 2:59pm
Manuela M from Rennes, France
Le visage est marquée par la vie... la tristesse est flagrante!
Quelle émotion dans ce portrait!
7 Sep 2009 4:38pm
john4jack from Corvallis, Oregon, United States
Superb photograph. So expressive of depth of experience and feeling. Personally I find that in my mid-70s, it is not so much that I find it difficult to believe as that it is clearer what a phenomenal mystery life is. I connect with life much more mystically than with any cognitive function.
7 Sep 2009 4:43pm
Liang from San Francisco, United States
beautiful quote for this photo. love the lighting on her face and the look of concern. nicely shot here!
7 Sep 2009 4:57pm
jeff (aka dogilicious) from Millerstown, PA, United States
Well done. Great quote.
7 Sep 2009 6:15pm
Viewfinder from Bradenton, FL, United States
I like the introspective expression on her face.
7 Sep 2009 6:58pm
marc battault from clermont ferrand, France
all the despair in this regard, it is superb!
kiss!
7 Sep 2009 8:32pm
Mindy | f-stopMarin from United States
wonderfully framed contemplative moment. perhaps her thoughts are heaving, but there's (at least to me) a feeling of hope, perhaps because of the large highlight area.
7 Sep 2009 8:43pm
John Maslowski from Dallas, PA, United States
Very moving portrait, her hands and expression definitely create the mood in this shot. Impressed that you were able to capture her in this tender moment. Excellent image.
8 Sep 2009 1:06am
Elaine- from Canada
awww she looks like she needs to believe, needs some good old fashioned Jesus in her life!!! nice shot, sad, but nice... :)
8 Sep 2009 2:26am
Steve Rice from Olympia, United States
She seems to hang onto both. What a great study of this woman's face.
8 Sep 2009 2:42am
Soe from Bangkok, Thailand
Great photo.. beautiful quote...
She looks worried... I hope everything is/was fine..
8 Sep 2009 2:47am
dj.tigersprout from New York City, United States
oooh BC!!! this is so heart wrenching!!! a beautiful and sad moment here -- so expressive! so magnificently captured!! and the quote goes so well!! an amazingly enigmatic truth -- god bless us, everyone for we will all feel this pain someday... (!) faaabulous reportage!
8 Sep 2009 3:42am
Nataly from Santa Monica, United States
Very genuine portrait, Sharon. I am not sure if it`s more difficult to believe, but it is more difficult to enjoy.
8 Sep 2009 3:53am
@Nataly: ...I think you have made a good point Nataly. Thank you.
romine from Bucharest, Romania
very beautiful quote and so true. excellent capture to go along. well done
8 Sep 2009 10:28am
10Fraction from Rennes, France
excellent illustration of your title, the picture is superb!Congratulations
8 Sep 2009 10:42am
Marcie from Newton, United States
Wonderful 'emotion' expressed and captured here. Beautiful!!!
8 Sep 2009 11:05am
JoeB from Brampton, Canada
We would wish for the heavens, now we would settle for a small corner of the earth.
8 Sep 2009 12:43pm
Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France
A geat composition and a touching attitude for this moment of reverence.
8 Sep 2009 1:15pm
B.Held from Santa Fe, United States
her thoughts seem to jump out at us, just beautiful.
8 Sep 2009 1:24pm
rian from mobile, United States
that's some emotion you captured there.. great work capturing this! :)
8 Sep 2009 1:39pm
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
This is a powerful image you have captured here.
8 Sep 2009 1:53pm
Howard F. from South Pasadena, Calif., United States
Her inner thoughts are written all over her face- worrisome, earnest, pleading... Powerful shot.
8 Sep 2009 5:01pm
Stephane Themeze from Maryland, United States
It's all written here in her expression as well as in her hands. If only...just once more...once. Painful emotion as faith and hope can be.
A Gentle look...
8 Sep 2009 5:38pm
Mr Tambourine from Great Malvern, United Kingdom
well done! I love that overexposure in the background, great portrait!
cheers
9 Sep 2009 1:55am
Luis A. De Jesus R. from Mexico City, Mexico
Lovely quote, Sharon. This woman seems to be in prayer. Just how did you manage this angle? Moving image, indeed.
9 Sep 2009 3:36am
@Luis A. De Jesus R.: Thanks so much Luis :) I sometimes plant myself up against a wall and look up ahead to see what is happening. There she was...standing there, hands clasped, for just a moment, and continued to move in that same position through a crowd of people.
SCOTT F. SCHILLING from San Martin, United States
Great image and perfect in black and white - very thought provoking. Your quote is quite interesting on this one - it may help explain a lot of my belief issues as I go through my mid-life crisis years!
9 Sep 2009 6:30am
Mike from Lichfield, United Kingdom
Very powerful and moving. The shallow depth of field is exactly what this photo needed.
9 Sep 2009 10:48am
Ronnie 2¢ from Atlantic Shores, United Kingdom
Interesting responses generated by this powerful and personal image . . of course, we don’t know what she is thinking but she does look gripped by intensity.
9 Sep 2009 3:30pm
Bishop from Houston, United States
marvelously isolated subject... and great concentration on her face... congratulations!
9 Sep 2009 8:15pm
Sarah from Suisse, Switzerland
A poignant and deeply moving photograph. Over 80 comments you have here so no need for me to tell you that it's a definite 5 stars shot! Bravo.
9 Sep 2009 10:24pm
Pavan Kaul from Mumbai, India
Such quiet dignity and poignance...lovely portrait!
10 Sep 2009 3:29pm
Brian Chen from Seattle, United States
"Faith and Hope" well represented in this shot. masterful!
10 Sep 2009 8:28pm
Magda from Vancouver, Canada
Outstanding portrait! LOVE IT!!!! So much character.... Bravo! 10/10
11 Sep 2009 4:29am
grant from kansas city, United States
this is quite touching, and very well done.
12 Sep 2009 3:52am
Andrew Gould from Sydney, Australia
Wonderfully caught, and with a depth of emotion coming through.
12 Sep 2009 3:52pm
STEED from GUERET, France
Wowwwww !!!!!!!!!! The Picture and the Mind...... All in One...Great !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
14 Sep 2009 6:28am
Nikon D70
1/45 second
F/8.0
ISO 200
145 mm