A Family Shooting
By robert kurtz
16 May 2007
Vab's grandmother, Chau Vue, is 94. She is the progenitor of 63 children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, including a new birth from the last week of March.
Vab wanted to have some nice photos with Tais (Hmong for "Grandma") while there was still time. She wanted to remember her grandmother in her traditional Hmong costume, a symbol of Chau's dangerous escape with her family from Laos, of their struggle to prosper in the United States, and of her people's nomadic heritage beginning more than two millenia ago in mainland China.
Vab's praise for Tais sums it up best: "She's a sweet soul with a fierce spirit that has survived incredible journeys and experiences."
I had never done anything like this, and had no idea what to shoot.
What I did know was that I wouldn't have a lot of time, so I kept it to one lens (a borrowed 50mm f 1.8) and natural light.
I was fortunate enough to arrive while Vab and DerZong were dressing their grandmother, so I was able to shoot what I feel are more documentary portraits than family portraits.
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