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Unyielding Love Abiding Sorrow

Werner Gysman was affected during birth, and has been cared for by his mother (Doreen) and extended family ever since. My short photo visit to this family was one of the most heart-warming and positive experiences I can remember.

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Mehdi Nateghzadeh 8 months ago

very nice shot

amoah paul k 8 months ago

That is a really heart worming picture you have here. The first thing that come into my mind was "Is this all that life as for us. " Nice work

amoah paul k 8 months ago

The first thing that come into my mind is "Is this all that life as for us." That is a really heart worm picture. Nice work

Hani Metanes 9 months ago

Heart warming or heart breaking ?

sarah navabi 9 months ago

great

Artur Stefanowski 10 months ago

incredibly poignant ... great photo !

Andre du Plessis Glad that you see this as such, regards!

Ante Gaspar 10 months ago

Great story..

Andre du Plessis Much appreciated Ante

OR. WE. 10 months ago

Powerful and touching!

Andre du Plessis Many thanks!

Hari Sulistiawan 10 months ago

ouh...very strong story Mr. Andre

Andre du Plessis Thank you for that Hari

Clyde Beamer 10 months ago

BRAVO!!

Andre du Plessis Thanks Clyde !!

willem 10 months ago

This is touching my hart, and my little pains are very selfish now..............

Andre du Plessis True words willem. That was what i felt when i left, and now that it forms part of my PF, it will remain a reminder of the very same.

Lubomír Hnat (Cheron) 10 months ago

+++

Andre du Plessis Many thanks for looking, as always, and regards!

mohammad mahdi shaghayegh 10 months ago

very nice shot

Andre du Plessis many thanks mohammad

Evan Pratama Ludirdja 10 months ago

I can feel the story in this shot !! The emotion is very strong !! :)

Andre du Plessis Thank you Evan. i am glad to read that the content stirs something in you. Regards!

Linda Wride 10 months ago

such strong emotion conveyed in this image Andre

Andre du Plessis Thank you Linda. I visited your links and you have some remarkable photos in your gallery. Very individual style. Thanks for the comment.

Hengki Lee 10 months ago

Awesome shot!

Andre du Plessis Thank you Hengki

Colmar Wocke 10 months ago

A very strong statement made here!

Andre du Plessis Hi Colmar! Thank you for the comment. The whole story around the taking of the picture was special for me, so I am very glad that it managed to come through and can now be shared.

Henry Trust 10 months ago

Great story.. Very touching..

Andre du Plessis Much appreciated Henry.

Marei 10 months ago

Great mood in this wonderful portrait, Andre.
Have a nice weekend...

Andre du Plessis Hi Marei. The weekend was .... well, lazy:) Thanks for the comment.

Monica 10 months ago

Very naturalistic!
Great!
Best wishes, Monica

Andre du Plessis Thank you Monica

Wings 10 months ago

Was this a medical visit with a team of doctors

Andre du Plessis Absolutely. Bus loads in fact. We had tea and home made cookies and then went for a swim and played Nintendo. We missed you!

Wings :)))) you for got to send the plane ticket . But knowing the depth as you stated in your activities no wonder the knowledge of depth is lacking and its beyond saving. You can buy the biggest and best gear, but with the mind playing Nintendo and doing home made tea and cookies and a swim. One can see what is obviously present in the balance of your opportunity.

I hope you left a tip at least. :)))) Ahh great shot Andre

Robert 10 months ago

Great photo! Great story! Great Andre!:-) Robert

Andre du Plessis :) Hi there Robert. Thanks plenty my friend.

Stephen Edds 10 months ago

A moving shot and moving story my friend :)

Andre du Plessis Hi there Stephen. Thanks for the comment. I know that you can fully relate to the circumstances here, so your opinion is really appreciated.

Zoltan Huszti 10 months ago

great shot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Andre du Plessis Thank you Zoltan

Guido Brandt 10 months ago

Andre - as always a moving story supported by a strong image.

Andre du Plessis Thanks for the supportive words Guido.

michel 10 months ago

Toujours beaucoup d'humanité dans vos photos, et de très beaux NB. Félicitations pour ce travail !

Andre du Plessis Merci michel. I am glad that you like the B&W - the colours in this room was so pleasant, and I was tempted to submit this in colour (for a change). However, my confidence levels in colour is very little, so I resorted back to what I am more familiar with. I also pre-visualised this in B&W, so that was another consideration for me.

michel Many thanks Andre for your kind words.

Nicolino Sapio 10 months ago

Bravo Andre!!!
Great Image

Andre du Plessis Thank you Nicolino. I have admired your photographs from your African school series. It will be my wish to work along similar lines - having a special subject or activity or group, and working that into a distinct collection. I tried to do a 'day in the life of a visiting Aids nurse' two years ago, and failed dismally. One probably needs to plan something like this, and that I am useless at.

Nicolino Sapio Hello Andre,
your work, to photograph sad reality is for people like me to open my eyes. People must know, must know and must do something. We have a great gift and, in my opinion, we must put at the service of others.
Thank you for what you do!
Nicolino

Graham De Lacy 10 months ago

I know how tough it is to photograph this stuff. Well done. Great processing and mid-tone detail.

Andre du Plessis Thank you Graham. Better not to know what awaits behind that door. I can only thank the Gysman's and their friends who made this so much easier and real for me.

Phyllis Clarke 10 months ago

Andre, Your photo is like a metaphor for all of human suffering - that sometimes even comes with the deepest of love - as in this case. While her eyes look tired to me, I also see endurance and determination. I cannot help but wish that this mother and her son had the services available in the US and elsewhere to help them both cope with the day to day challenges they both must face. This is a photo that is hard to just close, and walk away. Thanks for sharing this family. Phyllis

Andre du Plessis Thank you for the thoughtful comment Phyllis. Doreen seemed like such a phlegmatic person, and on asking her how things have been over the years, she was quite keen to re-assure me that they are coping well. I have no doubt that Werner has plenty of social contact - the house was full of neighbours and family when I popped in and they were all milling around in this kitchen where he was, and there seemed to be no unease about his presence. It was noticeable how they attempted to involve him during my visit... and now I am not only referring to his mother.
However, I know that someone in his situation would normally have access to remedial therapy, and I am not sure that those facilities are available in the area. I can safely assume that a district nurse will periodically visit - that is a given. However, any advanced facilities will probably be 100's of kilometers away, and maybe not practical and possible for this family. That remains my assumption.
The State supports Werner to the tune of ZAR 1000 per month, which equates about Euro 100. Now although this sound like a pittance, Doreen seemed to feel that this is of great assistance, and that payment manages to keep things on an even keel. This was my 1st visit to this family, and when I go there next time I shall find out more.

Phyllis Clarke Very good points you have brought out about the love of family and extended family and friends. Remaining in one's home can offer the type of care that many facilities cannot. I am so pleased that you have been able to show us this part of SA also.I am always getting a vicarious education from you.Thank you.

Edmondo 10 months ago

Great photo and b/w, compliments +++++

Andre du Plessis Thank you very much Edmondo

Ben Goossens 10 months ago

Full of emotions:-)

Andre du Plessis Hi Ben! Thanks!

Vincent chung 10 months ago

Very touching picture....great!

Andre du Plessis Thanks Vincent, appreciated.

Kim Ayres 10 months ago

Very moving and powerful Andre

Andre du Plessis Thanks Kim!

Ricky Siegers 10 months ago

I wish I took this picture :) excellent Andre !

Andre du Plessis You can Captain - just Go South. Cheers, and thanks, Andre

Ricky Siegers to far for now :))) but someday maybe !!!

Nicolas Marino 10 months ago

speechless......really, really sublime shot Andre

Andre du Plessis Thank you Nicolas

Codrin Lupei 10 months ago

Very happy to see this moving piece on the frontpage, I was sure that belongs to you! Congrats Andre!

Andre du Plessis In my reply to Frank below I added a bit more about this image. Thanks and regards, Andre

Jacob Tuinenga 10 months ago

Excellent photo, Andre, touching.

Andre du Plessis Thank you Jacob

m salim bhayangkara 10 months ago

great ekspression

Andre du Plessis Many thanks, Andre

Marcus Björkman 10 months ago

Very strong and moving photo Andre! After reading the story one can see the love and thoughtfulness in her eyes!

Andre du Plessis Thank you marcus. A little below I added a bit to my reply to Frank.

Christoph Hessel 10 months ago

a powerful work Andre, great
Christoph

Andre du Plessis Thank you Christoph

Frank Michael Helferich 10 months ago

Hi Andre. Really strong image. And I like the composition.

LandyMan

Andre du Plessis Hi LandyMan. This was such a good experience for me. I visited this family not to take pictures, rather to introduce myself, as this community I have not visited before. my intention was to go there next time I travel to SA. However, it turned out that Doreen was most hospitable, and during my visit requested that I do a picture of her and Werner. I did just that, but it was a poor one. Simply framed the two of them together, and clicked.
I had left there and was traveling back to my village when this composition came across my mind: Her as the prime person, and Werner in the back - in the shade and slightly out of focus.
So I turned around and drove back to Thornham.
Thus I wanted her to be the main person - she has cared for him, and I wanted that recognition to show in this. With Werner as the recipient of that care and love and dedication to form the secondary element.
Thanks, Andre

Vladimir Frolikoff 10 months ago

Truthful and dramatic photo!

Andre du Plessis Hi Vladimir. Yes, you have encapsulated my experience in those few words

yousef sayadi 10 months ago

Looking sad and patient,...Thanks Andre

Andre du Plessis Thank you yousef

Studio BaraX 10 months ago

well done.......

Andre du Plessis Appreciated, Andre

randi sofian sauri 10 months ago

great story... nice shoot

Andre du Plessis Thanks randi

Mohammad reza Momeni 10 months ago

A shot with a sad stories,you could be good show it,

Andre du Plessis Yes, I agree, but how the family is dealing with this on a rather low budget and few amenities and with total acceptance was an eye-opener for me.