when i saw the top image (taken by Jocelyn Lee) of Dr. Rachael Phelps in a New York Times Magazine article on "The New Abortion Providers" it brought to mind Hellen van Meene's photograph of another gazing lady.
the photo pair gives me the uncanny thought of van Meene's teenage subject—with her blond curls, set mouth, baroque hand gestures, and her expressive and introspective gaze—growing out of her awkward adolescence (van Meene's specialty) and into the visual role of the calm and caring doctor.
in the Times article, Dr. Phelps speaks about how chronic pain she experienced as an adolescent girl is what led her to her path as a doctor at Planned Parenthood.
i think you can see the deep feeling we associate with adolescence transform into empathy—on the part of both the subject and the viewer—in the images above.
3 comments:
HI Lexi,
I didn't know how to contact you other than by leaving a comment but I am studying photography and have just discovered your blog. I have found some great resources from you and would like to know of any websites or blogs that you like to read that pertain photography.
Any links you can send my way would be appreciated. astrid (_) piepschyk at hotmail dot com
I totally thought it was the same person for a second there.
Very interesting work. A bit painterly, a bit pathological.
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