Grandma Elaine, Oak Parker

Elaine isn't my grandmother or even my children's grandmother, but she is still called Grandma Elaine around here

Choosing 52 people of interest, or memorable people in Oak Park I had to include the first friendly person to talk to me when we were moving into our home, little did I know that 6 years later my children would refer to her as Grandma Elaine. One fine day in Feb. '10 while my husband was busy trying to make our house livable I took my toddler to the tot-lot, there we met Elaine and her grand-daughter Maya. She asked me to take a photo of her on the seesaw with Maya and told me a little about the neighborhood.

This project is all about community and what is a community without friendly people to spend time with.

One of Elaine's gifts to her community is reading and storytelling. As a retired school librarian she spends time at Lincoln school reading to the children. My kids got to have story time at her home the other day when we went by to take the photo.

Up in the little glass stage the kids are transported to world of adventure, where their imagination can grow, with the help of an extra grandmother!

Oak Leaves News

Meridith Morris of the Oak Leaves interviewed me a few weeks back about the Oak Parkers photo project I have been working on, here is the article from todays newspaper

Flashes of Hope

The last day of May I spent at Comer Children's Hospital as the photographer for the Flashes of Hope photoshoot. If you don't know about this non-profit please take a moment to view their site.
"Flashes of Hope is a nonprofit organization that changes the way children with cancer and other life threatening illnesses see themselves through the gift of photography and raises money for pediatric cancer research."

I got to work with eight families that day, from toddlers to late teens. Here are some of the images, it's always difficult to limit them down, but here goes















Once I have captured a few nice portraits I try to get a little of the family relationships











who doesn't love a big brother shot

















Girls just want to have fun.

Laughing helps us all.



His Mom told me she would love a shot with the hat, of course he wasn't having it for a good while



Most of the images are taken in an office, desks moved out of the way etc.. so there isn't a lot of room for lighting, it's all about the face





Some are taken bedside





All are so meaningful to be a part of