Final Folio - Road to Recovery

Analysis/ Critique of Folio

I have given all I have to this folio.  I have not left one scene un photographed and for this I have a wide variety of events documented of my sisters journey on chemo.

I’ve had to be approved to take photographs within hospitals and clinics. Work with tricky lighting and battle my way threw a mentally difficult situation and at the same time look after my niece on my hip.  (I am now a pro at shooting with a toddler on my hip)

When I look at my collection of images I am disappointed at the amount of images.  My folio of ten images does not bring justice to show just how tough the fight with cancer can be.  I would have loved to include some other photos that I had photographer.

My favorite image in the collection is image six.  This is a portrait of Lisa waiting at the Canberra Hospital waiting for the nurse to have her injection of chemo. 

This shot was the second reshoot at the hospital.  The first shoot was very busy and there was limited available light.  The second time was a public holiday, due to it being a public holiday there was only one other chemo patient within the area.  I was then able to have the nurse open the curtains while she had her injection, this let in amazing natural light. 

I find this image the most powerful for the expression as well as composition.  Gazing into the distance, with a blank expression.  This is a classic image that will remain timeless.

My least favorite image would be image nine.  This would be because it is simply not as strong as the others.  I tossed this image up along with a completely different image that I photographed of Lisa sleeping in her bed.  I decided to add this image to the collection because it includes her daughter Aimee.  With Aimee it shows one of the effects of chemo, fatigued.  In this image it also shows the same effect of being a mother.  If I could re-shoot this image I think it would have been stronger from the side and possibly as a full body shot.

Overall I am happy with my folio but wish I could expand it.  The final image I close my folio on (Image ten) is the end of her journey.  The chemo has ended for now and we close with a blood test.  Blood tests will now be a weekly event for one month until we get the final blood count and see what the doctor has to say.