"You want a photo of ME?"
Just this past Friday I had the pleasure to have a video and voice chat with Jennifer. I photographed Jennifer, her sister Beatriz and brother Robert while I was in Brazil in November 2005.
Jennifer lives just down the street from my good friend Maisa and was over at Maisa's house in Jardim Redentor this past Friday evening. Maisa helped interpret for us and showed Jennifer many of the photos that I made while I was in Jardim Redentor and Rio de Janeiro. It was great fun to hear her laugh and see her smile. I even tried to patch together a few phrases from my Portuguese lesson book. Thank goodness for Maisa's language skills, because I have none.
Over all the miles and even depicted in pixels and digital sound Jennifer's vibrancy glows. I hope with all my heart that life's harsher realities never steal the exuberance and enthusiasm from this lovely young girl.
I am now more sure than ever that I will return to Brazil. I will visit Jennifer, Beatriz, and their little
brother Robert. Jennifer tells me she is quite an amazing cook and will certainly fatten me up a bit. I can't wait to taste her cooking !
Extended Photo Caption: originally posted to
Post Cards from Brazil http://www.fotolog.com/jeromeo/
Sisters Jennifer (right) and Beatriz on Rua Coelho Branco, Jardim Redentor
I had seen these girls earlier with their little brother and photographed them with my film camera. One a second walk around town, with a small digital camera I had borrowed from my friend Maisa, I saw the girls again. I asked to make another photo. Jennifer was quite flattered and stepped forward, bubbling and giggling, for the picture. Beatriz was a bit more reserved. Jennifer put her hand up as if to say "You want a photo of ME?" I, at first waited for her to lower her hand, then realized that this was the essence of the photo and of her personality.
This is one of my favorite people photos from the trip. The colors, the subject juxtaposition, and the contrasting expressions and body language of the two girls all seem to work in concert to give this photo a harmony.
When I went back to Rio, I made two prints of this photo. On my next visit to Jardim Redentor, Maisa and I found the girls and gave them each photos with a small inscription in English on the back. Maisa told the girls that they should ask their English teacher to help them read it. As we walked away from them they ran down the street waving the photos and calling to their friends to come see, come see.
It is rare to spend only a couple of dollars and give so much pleasure. And, certainly I received just as much joy as did Jennifer and Beatriz. I'll look forward to seeing them again on my next visit to Brazil.
The photo was taken with a Olympus D590 digital camera on automatic exposure with widest angle lens setting available.
