Not All Is Rosy: Afterlife Portraiture in Victorian England:

Apologies for being macabre with this post but I found quite an interesting article from the BBC about death portraiture in Victorian Britain where right after the death of a loved one, usually a child, photos were taken of the deceased with their siblings or entire family for a portrait. 

The advent of photographs was one way to immortalize the departed ones and to keep their memories alive also. The photo above shows a young girl propped up in a chair with her dolls all around as if only sleeping. 

The pretty girl on the left with the soft curls and ruffly white dress had passed, her body was made to stand and it even appears as though she is among the living with her siblings. 

It was said that sometimes "eyes" were drawn to the corpses so they would appear to be awake for the photography. The article mentioned that in this photo, the deceased daughter appears clearer than the parents because she was motionless and was captured with lesser artifact while shooting. 

There is no indication of anything amiss in this photo of a boy despite it being taken after his life ended. Proof of the photographers and makeup personnel's mastery in their craft is laid bare in the photos as they are able to make the subjects appear alive.

**ALL PHOTOGRAPHS ARE FROM THE BBC.

Listening With Eyes and Feelings

I chanced upon this short film created by Todd Selby about a hearing impaired performance artist named Christine Sun Kim who has found such creative avenues of communicating. Creativity is inspiring especially if it has clarity where one does not expect it.

And now, the film:

Taya Kennedy, Baby Model

The sweet face shown in this picture is that of Taya Kennedy, a baby model with Down's Syndrome in Great Britain. The Daily Mail reports that Taya was not chosen for reasons of political correctness, but because quite simply, her smile and vibrancy wins hearts and sells the products she models! 

Being a sister of a man with Down's, I was joyed to re-feature this in this blog because it was such an inspiring story to read. Like a refreshing news amidst all the hate, tragedy and ills all around the world happening 24/7. People with Down Syndrome (if raised in a  good environment), are very gentle, trusting, happy and devoid of prejudice.

Kudos to Taya's devoted and loving mother Gemma Andre, for her love and for nurturing  this precious and beautiful bundle of jolly good cheerful, sweetness!

Sorry, but it's not all Rosy

Random Man in a Market Place

I snapped this photo when I went to a wet market place while I visited my family in the Philippines. I saw this man from across the street while buying veggies, fish and meat, It's a part of life, I says.

However, this made me wonder whether this man's condition was congenital, a result of a disease or from an accident. I never knew, but what haunts me as well as makes me understand is that even if there are many who have fallen into misfortunes or challenging circumstances, if each one of us are touched by just one, perhaps there will be enough compassion to go around?

Places I am taken to by God's grace really do teach me.