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Before a panel is judged by the Society of Wedding & Portrait Photographers (SWPP) organization in the United Kingdom, a fellowship applicant provides a one-page statement.
Read aloud; it provides insight into the journey, mindset, and intent of the artist and their unique vision. A fellowship is the highest accolade a professional photographer can earn in their career. This fine art portrait panel passed unanimously.
Realizing that my daughters were transitioning from their youthfulness to young women, I wanted to create a signature portrait of the three of them together. It was something I had never done for my family. Of course, I had taken many photos of them throughout their lives, but nothing that I felt was reasonably artistic. My daughter, Sara’s, upcoming wedding thus presented the perfect opportunity! Inspired by their love for Jane Austen, I purchased some parasols and related accents that were easy to take on the plane to England. My hope and indeed my heart hoped that my gift of a photograph would become an enduring image in their lives and illustrate for them and other what life was like as “Sisters.”
There was a growing realization stirring inside of me, however, that I had never fully explored the Masters I had first encountered during my Art History studies in college. Little did I know, that this seemingly simple journey would transition into an arduous quest! A week after returning to the States, I suffered a stroke, that served as a significant marker in my own life.
The recovery process was both complicated and newly invigorating. Not only did I have to relearn my skills and techniques as a photographer; I also had to rediscover my voice and learn simple skills like speaking. What I did retain, however, is the knowledge of what is possible and can be accomplished. What I lost was knowing how to do it.
Embracing my second chance at life, my priorities naturally shifted to focus even more closely on my family, specifically, my children and grandchildren. I created each image in this panel with them in mind. They are the stories I want to tell them, the values I want to impart to them and my tributes to the Masters connected with them.
Completely unforeseen was that the original photograph of the Sisters became even more important to our family when my daughter Elayne passed away. That Spring, I sketched out a concept for her daughter, Tyler, to honor her mother and communicate a message of ongoing security. She doesn’t have to look out the window anymore because her family loves her and is now forever ever-present in her life.
The arrival of my granddaughter, Holland, created new memories for our family and started for me (?) a natural exploration and examination of the Dutch masters. Then came Grace, my granddaughter, who lives in Rome. Knowing her father takes her to look at paintings on Saturday mornings further inspired me to turn my attention directly on the Italian masters.
These studies became instrumental in my finding my new voice. Being able to express myself visually helps me overcome my new limitations. I’ve found it exciting to challenge myself, create from the heart and continue to learn and grow as an Artist. Simple activities, such as seeing how many people I can art direct in a single capture to setting self-imposed time limits for executing different variations of a concept, have made seeing my paper sketches of scenes and lighting coming to life a true joy.
Throughout this process, I’ve broadened my vision, deepened my understanding of the creative process and rediscovered my skills. Using the camera, I realize I’m leaving a visual legacy to future generations of my family whom I so dearly love.
When one is having a picture made, often their usual boundaries are down. That's one of the reasons I enjoy being a photographer.
Their expectations are open, as there’s not a lot of power associated with being a photographer - so I can just come in close sweetly under the radar.
Because these personal defenses come down, we can share their joys and also their struggles. I don't always know what to say, but I enjoy being able to love them. Mostly, I get to listen. What could be better than loving people who are going through the same struggles that I share in these images, similar struggles to what everyone potentially is going to experience in life?
I believe cameras are simply my excuse to be around people, to be in other people’s lives and love them.
We all should love one another and know that we are all important and valued. Each person for me has dignity, strength, and a unique voice. The most precious item in the world is not possessions - it’s each other.
David Edmonson, F-SWPP
“As an artist who truly appreciates the work of the Old Masters, it is refreshing to see an artist as talented as David and watch he recreate in today's world, the beauty of the art that is before us! Thank you, David, for helping to keep the vision of a most classical time of art front and center in the portrait world of today!"
Photographer Luke Edmonson, 2016
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