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I mentioned that yesterday's shot was of our two eldest and two of their cousins: this one is of their mother, my youngest sister. She and her husband (and three kids) visited over the weekend, and it's quite some time since we last saw them as they live about 300 miles away and we both have young children, so it was great to see her. This visit though was particularly poignant as they're emigrating to Melbourne in a few months time, so this was probably the last time I'll see her for at least a year or two. And despite not seeing all that much of her in recent times, and that we'll easily be able to keep in touch by phone and email, the other side of the world seems like a long, long way away.

And I did try to take a few portraits, but none of them worked out, so I decided I'd settle for this one instead. It's not a great photograph, but I wanted to commemorate her visit, and say goodbye ... for the time being at least.

I'll miss her.

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Canon G5
5.06pm on 14/8/04
f5.6
1/80
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evaluative
50
12.7mm
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4x3 + fylde coast + people
comment by Jessyel Ty Gonzalez at 10:19 AM (GMT) on 17 August, 2004

I had a whole cameltoe joke worked out, but I think I'll just leave it at that :-). Anyway, I'm not too sure what I think about this photo. I like the detail, but apart from that, I'm lost at any meaning behind it. Your description about her leaving left me wondering, "well if she's leaving, wouldn't you want more of her in the photo?" Or perhaps you don't have much because you won't see much of her in your life? You see what you do to a person David? Such a simple photo, but because it was taken by you, I have to analyze every corner of it, LOL.

comment by Jason Davies at 10:53 AM (GMT) on 17 August, 2004

Nice shoes.

comment by djn1 at 11:49 AM (GMT) on 17 August, 2004

Jessyel: I guess that this one is more personally salient than symbolically or photographically meaningful, but if there is any shared meaning to be found I guess it would be in terms of both Blackpool and Melbourne being by the sea; i.e. standing on one beach, then moving to another. And this is in my photolog category so don't feel obliged to offer a deconstruction ;-)

comment by Jason Wall at 04:17 PM (GMT) on 17 August, 2004

The string is tenuous, but you could draw symbols from the shot of feet to travel and the fact that they are moving. Now that I look at the photograph in light of the idea of leaving or moving, the feet do look poised to start a journey, but that could be my mind projecting things that aren't there. The photo has your typical light morning airy feel. Very calm.

comment by Tim McCool at 06:14 PM (GMT) on 17 August, 2004

I like this picture. It's very peaceful. I enjoy looking at the waves of the sand, and then the little pieces covering the shoes. I like the lines of the shoes and the light jean wash, and also the contrast of light on the jeans. I like the colors present. It's a peaceful, calm picture. I like it.

comment by Charlie at 06:37 PM (GMT) on 17 August, 2004

The first thing that struck me was the tip of the shoes, which...I'm a little said to admit, made me jump right to a cloven hoof metaphor. Those shoes are so darn odd that I think it makes an otherwise straightforward shot extremely interesting! I would imagine the person to be just as unique and wonderfully interesting judging from this shot. :)

comment by McMystery Man at 10:50 PM (GMT) on 17 August, 2004

Charlie: Your imagination is impressively accurate because the owner of the shoes is indeed unique and interesting.

Dave: Thanks for looking after her all these years. Don't underestimate the part you played in making her so wonderful.

comment by djn1 at 12:26 AM (GMT) on 18 August, 2004

Thanks.

comment by Hoder at 07:54 AM (GMT) on 20 August, 2004

I like the way you combine your photos with personal stories. A photoblog, I believe, should be a blog as much it's a photo gallery. I'm trying to do the same thing in my own photoblog, vagrantly.

comment by Mara at 04:22 PM (GMT) on 2 June, 2005

i like shoes :)