A photo of a photo

"Carol - Burns Survivor"

I went to the Powerhouse today to catch up with a few friends and accidentally stumbled upon this exhibit. Among the photos there this image caught and held my attention. Mesmerising is the word that comes to mind everytime I look at it.

I thought i'd share her amazing portrait and story here. I didn't do any touch up or post processing of this photo as it would be presumptuous to do so and I didn't think it was appropriate (as it's not my photo). I can only imagine what she went and is probably going through. This portrait actually made the issues i'm dealing with atm pretty insignificant.

2011 Winners and Finalists of the Nikon-Walkley Photographic Awards:
Winner of the Nikon-Walkley Portrait Prize: Brian Cassey for "Carol - Burns Victim"

Brian Cassey's portrait of burns victim Carol Mayer was an instant choice by all the judges. "It's got to be that one. It's just mesmerising. The eyes draw you in. It's just amazing. It stands out amongst everyone else. The vivid blue eyes get you in, but then you just can't stop looking. I found myself following the lines of her face to see where they went... This is a really beautiful woman looking at you, then you see the skin and you think, 'Oh my God...' But she's very comfortable in her skin."

- from the Walkley Foundation website (www.walkleys.com/nikon-walkley-press-photography-awards)

Here's another photo from the exhibit, a finalist. The Christmas Island Tragedy photographed by Craig Greenhill