"Mom" at the kitchen table.

Lovely image of an attractive lady and that intense look suggests she is reading something serious like the obits.

Nice image of the wonderful lady. i like your placement of the backrest of the chair in front breaking monotony of foreground. compliments -koushik

 

"Obits" ! That's just too funny, and probably closer to the truth than anyone would care to admit. I used to spend a lot of time browsing the "Retirements" notices and now find I don't know who all these young people are. "Obits" is where it's at when you reach a certain age. This was a typical scene in "Mom's" (actually my mother-in-law) kitchen & anyone who knew her immediately gets a heavy case of nostalgia when they view it for the first time. Thanks for taking the time. Much appreciated. Best, LM.

Thanks for your visit & comments. I'd like to take credit for everything that is properly placed in this frame but must admit that the chair back location is purely accidental. If I had arranged things my cover would have been blown and "Mom" would have chased me out with the broom. Or, maybe it was subconscious; yes, I believe that's it ! :-) Best, LM.

Wonderfully done. Not only is your mom captured interestingly, but all the patterns of her blouse, the tablecloth, the chair back and so forth add to the ambiance.

Thanks for the visit & comments. Typical rural Central Ontario decor. A disappearing sight. Pity! Best, LM.

Len, I'm really enjoying your new/old work, and this is no exception. It's a scene that 'people of a certain age' will respond to immediately. The obits wouldn't surprise me at all. My mother always read them.

I actually wrote something else on the 'light side' but decided to remove it. Since you saw some humor, I will write it now. One gentleman reading the Obits found his exact namesake in the columns. he thought he better call his good friend to assure him that he was OK. The call is made, "Joe, did you see my name in the Obits this morning"? - Joe replies with a serious tone; "and where are you calling from"?

Many thanks for taking the time & for your comment. Yes, I guess this one has a certain 'global' appeal. Most everyone can relate to it at some level. Some of the beauty of taking photographs is that we never know which one is going to have 'legs'. I'm glad I took this one. Best, LM.

Cute story. "Joe" was probably considering the possibility that this was indeed a looong distance call. :-) Best, LM.

Most of your best work was done when you were a kid! Mom probably would have shied from her real self had she looked directly at us, this thus becoming a true portrait. We are able to study her as closely and as comfortably as she is studying her paper. From a day when the kitchen table was the command center. The light and texture of this is beautiful.

Yeh, I seem to have peaked 30 or 40 years ago. :-) I have more formal photos of this lady but they, unlike this one, failed to capture her true essence. This is one time when the environment plays an essential part in bringing out the truth. Combined with the candid approach. Command center indeed! The place where the paper was read, the meals prepared, then served, where the dishes were temporarily placed when done, where the kids did their homework, where hobby models were built, where small appliances were repaired, where the freshly ironed laundry was piled before being stored, where the cat was shooed from, and where unexpected short term guests were entertained with a cup of tea and some biscuits. It wasn't a kitchen table, it was a workshop & cafeteria all rolled into one. Fond memories! Best, LM.

Len, The kitchen base cabinets look like my Mom's from the 1950's.  Of course the cabinets were "modern" looking at the time.  I am getting more and more like my mother.  Are you?  LOL

Function over Form!  Your estimate of the time period is probably spot on.  Don't forget, this photo was taken in the late 60's.  Thanks for your comments.  Best, LM.

I have found myself looking at her / your photo, trying to decipherate why I was attracted to...

Reading all the comments was also a nice experience in itself (including the story of Joe!).

Still, I have no idea why I am here... Sure, it is a very good portrait and it is technically very pleasing as well. She probably signifies something very important for me... Maybe, it is just that I have missed my mother so much...

Regards,

The Universal Mom?  Sure, why not.  There is much in this image which would trigger a fond memory for almost anyone.  And, a sadness as well, for an era and loved ones now gone.  I'm happy to be able to share that which has touched me deeply.  If anyone else benefits from the sharing then that's a bonus.  Thanks for your input.  Don't be a stranger!  Best, LM.

If I were to be able to retake this one I'd frame a little closer to

her (camera) left shoulder & include a tad more newspaper. Your

comments? Best, LM.

I agree with your own comment but nevertheless a caption that stands out. Congrats. Frank

Thanks for taking the time to view & comment.  Best, LM.

I really don't care about seeing more of the paper.  You've captured her...so beautifully.

Yes, I agree, her essence has been captured.  The rest is nit picking.  But, in a perfect world.................  :-)  Thanks for stopping by.  Best, LM.

Very nice classical portraiture. A picture with a soul, definately, and that's what matters in this genre. With that said and to say something a little more constructive - or try to at least -, I'd ad that I feel the chair bottom right is a little too "heavy" in the composition, as it does a little more, imo, than balancing the top left's dark area. And secondly (more important), I love what I see, but would have been very interested too seeing a little series of your mom reading - with several expressions, so as to get to know her a little better perhaps... Regards.

Thanks for your interest & your constructive comments.  You are correct of course. In a perfect world the foreground chair would be minimized.  This was, however, a candid of a subject who, had she discovered my efforts, would have taken a broom to me, her son-in-law.  The chair was an important obstacle in slowing her down, allowing me to escape, unruffled, through the kitchen door, camera right.  :-)  An important entry in the family album where such nits easily pass unnoticed.  A series of pictures you say?  That's pushing it Marc though I agree the idea is sound.    Even a Rolleiflex isn't THAT quiet in such close quarters.  Advancing the film would have blown my cover & placed me in harm's way!  :-)  Kidding, of course.  She was very sweet.  Best, LM.

hi  len...  i   think  i  have  been  in  that kitchen and  in  that place as  a  child....  is  that  a  plastic  table cloth?  samme

Plastic?  Wouldn't be an authentic farm kitchen if it wasn't.  I'm happy that this triggered an emotional trip down memory lane for you.  Works for me too.  Best, LM.