life lines
by Amy
it was a final project in my college photography course. a series of images based on whatever we wanted to photograph and i chose hands. not just “hands” as we see them but the emotion so visible in how we use our hands. friends still make fun of me for it, for asking nearly everyone i knew to turn into a hand model.
there were nine in the final series and i felt kinda big time to have them displayed at a local barnes & nobel. but this one? this was my favorite.
maurice. maurice and an unknown hand. but for sure, maurice.
his hands, with the lines and the dirt and the chalk and the knobby knuckles…they told so many stories. he was a janitor. and as i got to know him better, i learned that he was a former football star and restaurant owner and the friendliest guy i knew. who knows if his giggly stories were true or not but they made for good conversations.
he has since passed on but his hands…they stay with me forever.
specifics: hasselblad 500cm with illford 400 film.
image circa 2002
I remember this well. One of my favorites also. It always reminded me of strength and protection of a baby chickadee. Good times!
Amy! As soon as I saw this picture, I thought; Maurice! And all these memories. Such a ham he was, with his secret- joke smile, and I never knew just exactly what he was talking about. And he could make you think that all he wanted in the world was what he had right then, because it was. I think you must have caught his essence in this picture, really lovely.
Ah, Amy. This picture has stuck with me for as long as I have known you. It’s probably the first time I recognized how special you are. Man, you are such an incredible woman.