1x.com - Consolation by Andre du Plessis

Photos Artists Forum Tutorials Critique Books Buy Prints About

Stumble 1X

Tour

Join

Sign in

Consolation

Photography is an elegiac art, a twilight art. Most subjects photographed are, just by virtue of being photographed, touched with pathos. All photographs are 'memento mori'. To take a photograph is to participate in another person's mortality, vulnerability, mutability. Precisely by slicing out this moment and freezing it, all photographs testify to time's relentless melt.

...Susan Sontag: American author, literary theorist, and political activist. 1933 - 2004

I wish to dedicate this photograph of Lorraine Wildeman to Phyllis Clarke for her constant assistance, encouragement and vision. Thanks Phyllis.

Related photos

Write

Noelle Clearwater 11 months ago

Andre,
It is a deeply empathic expression on her face, as if she takes in all of us in a single glance because...she is all of us. It is simply beautiful. The dog is heart-opening in her arms with his paw placed just so, and it does recall some earlier paintings of memento mori in which there is occasionally a dog present, but you probably knew that already. Thank you for this work of art.

David Kakalashvili 2 years ago

excellent!

ksenija mikor 2 years ago

you are my new best photographer :)

Phyllis Clarke 2 years ago

Everytime I look at it I see a masterpiece. Phyllis

Antonio Arcos aka fotonstudio 2 years ago

a very touching portrait, Andre, love the way you captured her soul and feelings...

pascal bobillon 3 years ago

Another portrait very sensitive. I like this emotion that emanates from your pictures.

MARYAM SAHAFZADEH 3 years ago

as friendship requires you could take it. lovely monocolor tone and composition.

latoday 3 years ago

No need for words... Her eyes are telling everything...

Another great and intensive one, Andre!

Phyllis Clarke 3 years ago

I see she is back at the Critique section and we are all made better for it. Her face could be like a model for COMPASSION. I look at her and I think she knows all my problems and I have nothing to worry about! How do you do it Andre? :)))) Phyllis

joan kocak 3 years ago

everything a portrait should be...you are such an inspiration Andre. This photo and your Sontag quote sums up the power of photography so well. What do people often rush into a burning home to get, but their photographs, which are so much more than that.
wonderful wonderful work my friend

Faddoush 3 years ago

this shot makes me wonder...(you work is inspiring!)

Femke de Wit 3 years ago

Great one, the way whe hold her dog is wonderful. this picture tells a story.

Ben Goossens 3 years ago

Strong one:-))

Soeren Friberg 3 years ago

Good job. Well captured. Thanks for sharing.
With regards
Soeren

Stefania Cruceru 3 years ago

excellent!

Andre du Plessis Thank you Stefania:)

Al Seyedain 3 years ago

Lovely. Powerful. This is Brilliant!
al

Andre du Plessis Hi Al. That is kind of you to say. Best wishes, Andre

Mihnea Turcu 3 years ago

this is sooo strong again and direct and opened and so life story telling...
no more words! this is photography for me!

Andre du Plessis Dear Mihnea. As I have gotten to know you a bit better, and realise more about you and what in photography you enjoy the most, your words are always so heart-felt. Thanks for that, and the best for you, Andre

Mihnea Turcu yes, i really hope that my words reach you...:)

Andre du Plessis ...they do!

Ivan Radic 3 years ago

I'm touched. Bravo!

Andre du Plessis That is good to hear Ivan:) Regards, Andre

Judy W 3 years ago

No words are worthy enough of comment on this extraordinary image. The emotive quality, not to mention the excellent execution of the focus, light, tones, etc. WOW

Andre du Plessis Hi Judy. Thank you very much for your feed back. I had a bit of a problem with the light - it was streaming right into this one roomed little shack. Closing the door enveloped us in darkness, so some kids came up with the idea of shielding the light with a thin blanket, which did the trick. I never give money, so in return for them holding this up on sticks I had to take a group photo. Which means that I have to give them 14 prints in December when I go down there again:(

storytaylor 3 years ago

wonderful work as always Andre. great.

Andre du Plessis Once again, that coming from you means a lot. Many thanks:)

Andrei Baciu 3 years ago

bravo, Andre! :)

Andre du Plessis Hey Andrei! Thank you very much:)

Andrei Baciu Don't mention it, Andre! You've got some fantastic, emotional photographs. It's a true honour for me to be able to comment upon them. Seriously. :) This is one of the reasons why I think 1X is an extraordinary site, despite its drawbacks.
Cheers,
Andrei

Zivko Risteski 3 years ago

a picture with soul,
very good work Andre

Andre du Plessis Thank you Zivko. There were a few adults that I met on this visit to these 3 dwellings, however, Lorraine definitely had the more photogenic qualities about, and I can report that she really, really enjoyed this. I did not ask her to do anyhing in particular - this is how she looks on all my frames. Only picked this one because the doggy jumped up, and then it all came together for me. Regards, Andre

prolixpics 3 years ago

A beautiful photograph and a beautiful quote. It may be of general interest to note that Susan Sontag was very close to the world of photography through her partnership with Annie Leibowitz. And yes, I'd like to thank Phyllis Clarke too. She is a light among us.

Andre du Plessis Hi there. Another toast to Phyllis! Glad about that. As I mentioned down below I have not studied Susan Sontag fully, however, after this posting I think that I should do just that. Many thanks for your comment, Andre

Claudio Solera 3 years ago

Excellent work Andre! Ciao,Claudio.

Andre du Plessis Thank you Claudio, and you take care, Andre

Catalin Parau 3 years ago

One of the most powerful images around, just magnificent.

Andre du Plessis Thank you Catalin. I am honoured to hear that you decribe the photo like that. Best wishes, Andre

Linoush2000 3 years ago

excellent portrait!
well done!

Andre du Plessis Much appreciated!

mm767cap 3 years ago

Absolutely incredible portrait, Andre. It just sings

Andre du Plessis So it was a bird sitting on that rock in your image! Fortunate you! Many thanks for your comment. When I see Lorraine at the end of the year to hand them the prints, I shall tell her that someone enjoyed her picture so much that it was like a song. She will really enjoy that:) Regards, Andre

Ian Damerell 3 years ago

Nice one Andre. Well done.

Andre du Plessis Many thanks Ian:)

Robert 3 years ago

This is real and i feel i sit there! Perfect Andre!

Robert

Andre du Plessis Thank you Robert. I think that we share many similar sentiments when it comes to taking photographs of people, so your appreciation means a lot to me. Andre

Codrin Lupei 3 years ago

Awesome image, Andre, love the soul and the heart your images have! Love your work!

Andre du Plessis Thank you Codrin. I have, and often still, try to break the 'mould' of my approach. However, as my portraiture work grows, it is becoming increasingly difficult to break from this genre of people pictures. I dearly would love to submit some other less 'personal' and 'heavy' work, like street, or even landscapes, or more abstract. I appreciate so many levels of what I see submitted here, and attempt my own, only to fall at the 1st hurdle.
However, I love doing this type of work more than anything else. So I guess that is why I fail at other types.
But don't be surprised if I submit something very different soon - I am quietly going about it..:)
But these pictures is my love, and something that I cannot see myself from moving away from. Each picture represents a person who I have sat down with and talked to. Total strangers that I only met minutes before. However, in that short time the image for me conjours up the memory of the voice, the soul, and all the other stuff that makes us all unique.
So for me these images are less photo, but more composition. Just a pity that pictures cannot always tell more...
Best wishes, Andre

Colmar Wocke 3 years ago

Andre,

Gelukwense!

Colmar

Andre du Plessis Baie dankie Colmar. Hoe meer ek kyk na die brakkie, hoe meer smile ek. Ek dink dat hy n groot rol speel in hierdie komposisie. Groetnis, Andre

Frank Michael Helferich 3 years ago

A really sensitve photo. The dogs pad (right word?) on her hand ...

Frank (Landyman)

Andre du Plessis LandyMan! Thanks! That paw on her hand is so sweet - actually it is precicely that 'gesture' that made me think of the title. Take care Michael!

Andre du Plessis Frank became Michael ???? Call me Dick next time:) Sorry Frank!

Anastasija 3 years ago

This words are really golden words...
Nice photo. Touching words. Incredible.

Andre du Plessis Thank you Anastasija. I thought that the words supported my image of Lorraine quite well. Best wishes, Andre

Patricia Sweeney 3 years ago

Haunting, touching and ultimately beautiful. Wonderful tribute to Phyllis, well deserved.
P

Andre du Plessis Phyllis is special, and I think that there a lot of us that think that. Many thanks for your lovely words on the image. Andre

nico3d 3 years ago

fantastic, simply fantastic Andre !

Andre du Plessis Nice of you, thanks Nico!

John Taylor 3 years ago

Beautiful portrait!
It is interesting that you should choose this quote, one of the nicer things she had to say about still photography. In my youth and naivete i ripped her thesis on photography in an oral presentation with my portfolio to my film teacher who was a definite fan of Sontag's. I got a very good grade as i recall, so i must have made and impression. I should re- read 'On Photography' again someday. Thanks for your pictures as always

Andre du Plessis Hi John. Well, you know more about Susan than I do. I have just touched on her biography. Very interesting person - quite multui-facetted I think. So maybe I should get down to read a bit more about her. I have not come across this sentiment, so obviously my limited research has indeed be too limited. I shall go and see what you refer to.
....wondering if you still have that work of yours lying around somewhere. It will be quite interesting to share in it. Cheers, Andre

Svetislav Nedic 3 years ago

great!

Andre du Plessis Thanks Svetislav. SZometimes when you click you have that 'feeling' that it will work. That was the case here. Regards, Andre

Monique 3 years ago

As always Andre.......as always :)

Andre du Plessis Thanks Monique, that is very sweet of you....as always:)

JBA 3 years ago

Great touching portrait Andre. Always such warmth in your depictions. The dog is wonderful ;-) Funnily enough I have just re-read 'On Photography'. I need to read it every few months to keep what she said in my head ;-)

Andre du Plessis Hi Jon. I have not read it - just read internet articles on her, and I thought that this quote from her was quite appropriate for me. Her story I did not tell, however, I think that her expression tells enough. Thanks for visiting, Andre

Ricky Siegers 3 years ago

Andre this is...magnifique....

Andre du Plessis Hello Captain! Many thanks for your visit and words here. Go well!. Andre

Tad Cholinski 3 years ago

Beautiful!

Andre du Plessis Thanks Tad!

Andre Human 3 years ago

Nice one André. I am now recognizing them in screening :)

Andre du Plessis Hi Andre. Thanks for that. The recognition factor....don't always know if that is a good thing:) Wishes, Andre duP

Magda Berny 3 years ago

excellent portrait in natural environment... great and touching story!!!!!!!

Andre du Plessis That is lovely for you to say Magda. Plenty of thanks, and best wishes, Andre

Daniel Portal 3 years ago

this photo touched my heart, Andre.

Andre du Plessis Boston - my girlfriend is from there around. Many thanks Daniel.

Semir 3 years ago

Great one Andre..

Regards, Semir

Andre du Plessis Much appreciated semir, regards!

enzo penna 3 years ago

Posso soltanto ripetermi...........sai quanto apprezzo il tuo lavoro .ciao

I can only repeat ........... you know how much I appreciate your work. Hello

Andre du Plessis Ciao Enzo! As always - many thank you's for this, Andre

Phyllis Clarke 3 years ago

Andre..I feel like a Queen - to have my name a few lines from Susan Sontag's and then to see your words. Goodness gracious me..I must be emotional today - your words brought tears! And then I looked at your subject here - this woman - and I feel like she, and Susan and I are sisters...in the deepest sense..
You bring poetry to poverty and pain, and you bring us closer to knowing South Africa, through just a few people. I am not sure who I want to hug more - her or the dog! :) this is again a photo that is more than the sum of its parts! :) Double Bravo. My best, Phyllis and thank you for bringing her back! :)

Andre du Plessis When I saw this scene I thought of the link that you sent me long ago, so I adapted my composition. So you share this with me. Best wishes, Andre

Slavomir M. 3 years ago

very emotive, good job

Andre du Plessis Much appreciated

Shlomi Nissim 3 years ago

i love it! very touching pic

Andre du Plessis Thanks Shlomi!

gerard sexton 3 years ago

Very touching very sincere very personal indeed yes an insight into others lives in a sensitive & thoughtful way as always Andre! If only she could see into all those lives of others viewing her on this site!

Andre du Plessis Ahh Gerard. How many times have I wished for that. Many thanks, Andre