An Expectant Mother Portrait of a Lifelong Friend
This expectant mother portrait is almost hidden in darkness. A small light catches her eyes and the edge of her face, while warm circles glow behind her. The photograph feels like a quiet pause before life changes.
I do not remember the year or even where I made this photograph. What I remember is her. She is about a month away from becoming a mother, perhaps even less. By the time you see this, she may already be holding her baby.
We met in Balıkesir about twenty-three years ago. We were both shy, so conversation took a while. We first drew pictures for each other, letting those drawings soften the distance between us. Then we became good friends and carried that friendship across twenty-three years. She has been cross with me now and then, of course. 😂 I like to think my affection has always been stronger than the silence between us.
I made this with my well-used Nikon D90 and a 50 mm lens. I think the only light may have come from her phone. The camera never loved the dark, but the lens gave me just enough light to hold this gentle expression. The technical details matter less to me than what this expectant mother portrait keeps: a close friend at the beginning of a new chapter.
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Take good care of yourselves, and Happy New Year. 🥰
BE
