Mother Seen

Rafael San Juan's Primavera in Havana, Cuba

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I was obsessed with her, craning my neck as we flew by her. This is “Primavera” by Raphael San Juan. It’s 26’ tall and was made of reclaimed found metal as a tribute to the sensuality and strength of Cuban women.

Film Notes:

During my first 2022 visit to Havana with Jon Canlas and The Film School Road Trip Matthew and I shot a lot of film. Having shot digital images almost exclusively whilst being intrigued and intimidated by film, our trip offered a deep dive into film. 3 days of shooting in the rich visual landscape of Havana and Vinales along with Jon’s break-neck shooting pace offered an opportunity in an inspiring, stimulating set and setting to experiment with film, settings, cameras, lenses, etc.

In post-processing I realized my Bronica had a focusing problem leading to many many near-misses where in-camera I’d seen sharp, beautifully composed images. Painful learning costs are the way and actually give these fresh, sharp, beauties of this sculpture a BINGO precious feel.

Film: Kodak Gold box rated pushed 1 stop in developing

Development & scanning: Standard Scans via The Find Lab on the Noritsu scanner

Seen- Nursing Portraits

Only a few days after giving birth, shirt stained with mother’s milk as she lives and breaths the new life from inside to outside her.

This is one of the myriad ways motherhood takes and gives and changes shape. A peek into the world of motherhood, of the fourth trimester, of the hazy days so precious and heavy and fast.

This is a phase, a phrase, a holy blip of a consequential ritual with tethers that bind us from ancestor to far-flung successors.

Thank you Stephanie for letting me see and share.

Photo of Stephanie Hawkes. Find Stephanie HERE

Canvas backdrops by Ultraviolet Backdrops