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How We See Others
The artist asked me how to minimize the influence of other people in our lives when making artistic decisions to create a portrait of someone. I replied that others do and should influence how we see others.
"I never photograph a woman and not photograph her hands," I told the gathering of artists. "Here is why."
I reached out my right arm to my side as if placing it on the shoulders of someone next to me.
"Let me introduce my mom, Dorothy Ann Sobieski McInnis. I'm sure that I am influenced because her hands comforted me, rubbed my head and back as a kid, cooked, and took care of things and others. I remember them clearly."
I went on to discuss her hands, as well as my favorite photograph of her sister's hands...my Aunt Elynor. Both are gone now. As I looked around, I saw two attendees with tears in their eyes. People were clearly re-appearing in their memories.
Love's memories and recollections stick with us because of touches-to the heart and soul. And that influences how we see others. There can be no better lens through which to look.
Listen to Life is a free newsletter about learning and getting more from life by paying attention to our own stories and the stories of others, based on the presentations, writings, photography and workshops by Dion McInnis (www.dionmcinnis.com). Copyright 2010 Dion McInnis. All rights reserved.
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