Portraits and Dreams

Janet Stallard, I took a picture of myself with the statue in the backyard
The cover image is what brought my attention to the book 'Portraits and Dreams:Photographs and Stories by Children of the Appalachians' and is in fact a self Portrait of Janet Stallard. The book is a collaborative project by the photographer/teacher Wendy Ethan, and one of many to form her Literacy through Photography Portfolio.
Not only does Wendy challenge and bring into question who actually makes a photograph the subject/ the photographer? But by giving the Children full 'artistic' control over the production of the image I believe the results cannot help but be all the more real, raw and intriguing. With no preconceptions and in depth cultural knowledge the children are not held down by preconceived notions, rules and regulations. They are simply free to experiment and record themselves as and how they wish to.

In Janet's Self portrait she probably has no idea that the little cherub statue behind her will peep out just by the corner of her head, adding that minor detail that will make the image all the more interesting. Again we must presume that Wendy herself was not there to assist in the photo. The portrait feels very natural and has weight, I love the expression on Janet's face, the slight hint of movement, and the feel of youth the image exudes.

Denise Dixon, Reaching for the Red Star


Denise Dixon, Phillip and Jamie are creatures from outer space
in their space ship

The series does highlight and make you think whether the children would reveal this highly personal and truthful side were there to be a person behind the camera, someone else present and involved in making the photograph. Being in familiar surroundings is clearly another factor contributing to setting the children at ease.

Would it make them put on more of a facade, a guard if you will were there to be someone behind the camera? It all highlights how much the relationship and collaboration between photographer/ subject is key to portraiture, portraiture that aims to capture the 'true' side of the person that is. Although this truth aspect is a whole other issue.

Interesting also to compare how each child differs in how they present themselves, Freddy Childers clearly bares as he holds a portratit of his deceased. We learn from the title that he committed suicide, and I can help but think it must have been a recent event. Freddy is also an example of how true and real he feels this portrait should be, a testament to recent episodes or rather tragedies in his life.


Ruby Cornett, I asked my sister to take a picture of me on Easter morning
Freddy Childers, Self-portrait with a picture of my biggest brother Everett, who killed himself when he came back from Vietnam