Stephanie Ford
Adrienne Cassel
ENG 1201.501 Week 6
October 12, 2014
DAD a Photo
In this essay we are looking at the picture above and what it says to me. This photo is of a man that suffers from Dementia. The author of this photo indicates that his dad has Dementia and he isn’t sure that he knows him. They were spending time together when he decided that he wanted to get a meaningful photo shot of him. The black background that the father is against says to me that the atmosphere and meaning of this picture is meant to be somber. All of the features of this man have a story of their own to tell. I think he really captured the moment.
When I look at this picture I see a scared, worried, and sad older man that is stuck in a vanishing mind. The age spots and lines on the man’s face shows his age. The wrinkles show the years of good times and bad times that this man now forgets. He looks tired and confused, worn out from a long life.
The reflection of the photographer can be seen in the eyes of the dad. To me that enforces the emptiness that comes with Dementia. His eyes say everything to me. They scream for help, understanding what is happening to his mind and body. He looks sad as if he knows that his mind is failing him and he has forgotten things that meant the world to him. The hurt that is there, he needs to know that he is still loved.
This father with dementia, old and wrinkled, sad and lost still has a smile on his face. It’s not a huge smile, it doesn’t pop off the photo and it’s not the first thing you notice, but it is there. Despite everything this man has gone through, the pain, the memory loss, the confusion and the frustration he still smiles, a small smile indicating that there is still some happiness there that not all is lost. This smile shows he still has hope and hasn’t yet forgotten how to just smile anyways, because in that moment, he has forgotten that there is even anything wrong with him, he has forgotten that he is confused, he has forgotten that he is lost and angry and sad and alone, in that moment he remembered to smile at his son.
Much like this man in this picture my grandma suffers from Dementia. I can see the resemblance between the two. I catch myself just watching her, wondering what she is thinking about. What is this dad thinking about? Does he know today that he is the photographers’ dad? Dementia is disease that is erasing this man’s memories but can never erase his heart. He may not know today that he is his father but he knows that the man taking his picture loves him.
This is a very graceful shot and it catches the emotions of the time. I like how this is a close up on the father showing 100% focus on him and the situation at hand. As a care giver or a loved one of someone that suffers from this disease it makes you wonder what he is thinking about. Dementia can’t be seen but I think if it could this guy is what it would look like. I can’t imagine the hurt and feeling of lost with no hope that one feels that suffers from this disease.
Works Cited
Pearce, Ben. "Dad Photo by Ben Pearse -- National Geographic Your Shot." National Geographic Your Shot. N.p., 22 Dec. 2013. Web. 12 Oct.
Adrienne Cassel
ENG 1201.501 Week 6
October 12, 2014
DAD a Photo
In this essay we are looking at the picture above and what it says to me. This photo is of a man that suffers from Dementia. The author of this photo indicates that his dad has Dementia and he isn’t sure that he knows him. They were spending time together when he decided that he wanted to get a meaningful photo shot of him. The black background that the father is against says to me that the atmosphere and meaning of this picture is meant to be somber. All of the features of this man have a story of their own to tell. I think he really captured the moment.
When I look at this picture I see a scared, worried, and sad older man that is stuck in a vanishing mind. The age spots and lines on the man’s face shows his age. The wrinkles show the years of good times and bad times that this man now forgets. He looks tired and confused, worn out from a long life.
The reflection of the photographer can be seen in the eyes of the dad. To me that enforces the emptiness that comes with Dementia. His eyes say everything to me. They scream for help, understanding what is happening to his mind and body. He looks sad as if he knows that his mind is failing him and he has forgotten things that meant the world to him. The hurt that is there, he needs to know that he is still loved.
This father with dementia, old and wrinkled, sad and lost still has a smile on his face. It’s not a huge smile, it doesn’t pop off the photo and it’s not the first thing you notice, but it is there. Despite everything this man has gone through, the pain, the memory loss, the confusion and the frustration he still smiles, a small smile indicating that there is still some happiness there that not all is lost. This smile shows he still has hope and hasn’t yet forgotten how to just smile anyways, because in that moment, he has forgotten that there is even anything wrong with him, he has forgotten that he is confused, he has forgotten that he is lost and angry and sad and alone, in that moment he remembered to smile at his son.
Much like this man in this picture my grandma suffers from Dementia. I can see the resemblance between the two. I catch myself just watching her, wondering what she is thinking about. What is this dad thinking about? Does he know today that he is the photographers’ dad? Dementia is disease that is erasing this man’s memories but can never erase his heart. He may not know today that he is his father but he knows that the man taking his picture loves him.
This is a very graceful shot and it catches the emotions of the time. I like how this is a close up on the father showing 100% focus on him and the situation at hand. As a care giver or a loved one of someone that suffers from this disease it makes you wonder what he is thinking about. Dementia can’t be seen but I think if it could this guy is what it would look like. I can’t imagine the hurt and feeling of lost with no hope that one feels that suffers from this disease.
Works Cited
Pearce, Ben. "Dad Photo by Ben Pearse -- National Geographic Your Shot." National Geographic Your Shot. N.p., 22 Dec. 2013. Web. 12 Oct.