Known to family and friends as Marraine, Suzanne was always happy to pose for a portrait. Over the years I made a number of images, both posed and candid of her. She always had a kind word, a smile and a laugh to share.
In 2010 I gave her a print of this portrait and when she saw it she thanked me with a tear in her eye. It moved her. A wonderful moment and one I will never forget.
Sadly she passed away on 8 November 2011 at the age of 92. She will be missed.
Every photographer, for that matter every creative, I've ever met comes to a point when they're not happy with the work they're producing. The pendulum between creative highs and dry spells swings continuously. For some the cycle is long and the bouts are quite mild for others the feeling of doubt about their work can be a crushing experience which returns all to frequently. It's actually quite healthy to have these periods of doubt because it can often be the beginning of something new and interesting which takes you further than you thought possible. Creatives in the commercial world have to always perform and although they may agree looking back that they've had a few patches where their work was less good, they always seem to bounce back. A very few creative geniuses deliver such high quality work that their poorest attempts still surpass the rest of us. But I have never heard of anyone, from tortured soul of Van Gogh to the supreme showman and genius, Salvador ...
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