Making Connections With Photography®: an illustrated autobiography

Sally's story includes the taking of photographs that chart her transition from a 5 year old to a 50 year old. Her way of writing is illuminating and led by the actual photographs she took when she was living through challenging times that are hinted at in the section headings. 'Exploring My Family Connections', 'Innocence' and 'Staying In The Moment' segue to 'Distracting From The Moment', 'Habits', 'Survival', 'Confusion', 'Creating Order', 'Documenting' through to 'Connecting'. Sally was a victim of child abuse and making such connections and with photography to rely on throughout, she became able to 'Understand [Herself] by Studying Others', 'Take Responsibility' and 'Arrive at Acceptance', which gave her 'Normality' in otherwise chaotic situations. Finally, Sally has done more than just survive and is finally able to 'Take Centre Stage' with the publication of her story in this book.  



How we choose to view our lives can make an enormous difference. Sally, used the camera lens to view hers.  At nine years of age she was robbed of her childhood when targeted by her abuser.  Instead of going off the rails she buried herself in photography. Her camera became both friend and confidante. Years later it would help her to examine  her painful past. A powerful story which moved me to tears.

Piper Milton - Author

 

Each of Sally's images holds power and meaning, giving us a window on her life and showing how she connected her past to her present with photography. The personal tale behind Sally's photography makes this a rich and emotional journey for the reader, showing how the author has been able to come to terms with past traumas, regain control and move forward. Most of us may have aspects of their life, which they'd rather forget or wish hadn't happened and I admire Sally's courage in facing her own 'demons' in such a fascinating and positive way. This is a skilfully crafted autobiographical book that shares Sally's journey of recovery.

 

Sally's poignant text has also certainly made me think more about what I see when looking through a lens and why I am choosing to capture that moment. 'Making Connections' also encourages us to look beyond what is immediately obvious in a photograph and question what the photographer might have been thinking - why then, why there and why that? Does a photograph record only one moment in time?

Kathy Chantler ARPS - an Associate of The Royal Photographic Society