Emancipation
Homage to my mom…
The sun is rising, east of a woman’s freshly emancipated soul.
With sheer delight she will watch her new freedom rise and grow strong, carrying her accross the ocean of her life.
Eagerly riding the tides, she will brave strong currents and beautiful agitated seas, fighting her way through occasional storms, tasting the salt of life, and collecting a wealth of souvenirs and precious lessons along the way.
Once on the west side of her existence, the time when she will be able to look back peacefully upon her itinerary will grow near.
The emancipation will then be complete, after slowly unfolding over a lifetime. Respite will appear in the guise of serenity and of a well deserved inner peace.
A life of emancipation and metamorphosis, in a changing world.
The photos used in this image are all mine, except for the one of my young mom at 19, obviously. I used the following photos:
Mom
Early magic
Regal Butterfly
Here Comes The Sun
It is my first attempt at creating a composite image, using several layers in Photoshop and blending them in overlay or soft-light mode. Levels, curves, gradient maps and channel mixers adjustment layers were also used to tweak the image a bit. Drop shadows were added to the two portrait cutouts to soften the edges and procure a little bit of depth.
Featured in the group Images and Ideas on March 18, 2009
Finished in 8th position of Top Ten in the May’s Feature Challenge of the Stillness Speaks Group on April 25, 2009
Emancipation belongs to the following groups:
! 100% !, Bits and Pieces , Capturing Emotion, Creative, Talented, and Unknown, Elderly , Experimental, If it doesn't belong, Images & Ideas, Live, Love, Dream: , Mature Woman, PixElations - The Art of Photoshop, Safe Haven, The true beauty, The Woman Photographer **7 Submissions a week only please** and Woman Appreciation Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints
LilyMunroe
Wow Johanne, goosebumps!!! so beautiful, the images and words! Love :)
Johanne Brunet replied
Thank you Lily! It means a lot to me that you like it!
Carole Brunet
Jo, en bon québécois….. C’est écoeuramment beau et bien fait. T’as du génie tu sais?
Johanne Brunet replied
Merci, ma soeur! On a du génie, tu veux dire! :-)
Joanne Bradley
Oh I love how you combined both images to give that whole perspective over time…. Just a beautiful lady yesterday and today. Excellent text describing our transition through time…
Johanne Brunet replied
Thank you Joanne! I’m glad that you like it. I was starting to think that it was a flop, with so little comments, but it might just be due to the fact that it’s not everybody’s cup of tea… :-)
Johanne Brunet
I posted below a free translation of my mom’s response to this image, sent on January 25, by email .
WOW !
I’m flabbergasted and you brought tears to my eyes. It reconciles me with the fact of seeing myself in photo .
It’s a brilliant idea, professionally executed. Usually, I can’t seem to recognize myself in a photo from the image I carry in my mind but I do now. Anyone can see how much work was put into the creation of this masterpiece and its accompanying text .
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making me so happy about my decision to trust you and your sister with this photo shoot .
Mom
Sally Omar
This is so beautiful!!!!! xoxoxoxxoxoxo
Johanne Brunet replied
Thank you Sally! :-)
Carole Brunet
Congrats on your top ten in May’s Feature Challenge of Stilness Speaks group.
Johanne Brunet replied
Thank you Sister! Gotta tell mom that she placed in the Top Ten again! LOL!