Would I like this image more had the wind not abruptly blown the hair across the little girl’s face as it did? I don’t think so, and it’s possible that I like it more because of this. There is something so resolute about her gaze here, some kind of strength within that remains unyielding to the effects of both the environment and the unknown woman with camera just a few feet in front of her. I was purely in awe of her in this moment, and as I pressed the shutter release I closed my eyes and hoped that the feeling I had in making the image would be conveyed in the final portrait.

While I was fully aware that the hair blown across her face would likely cause this image to not be considered by the client, I’m glad I didn’t instinctively reach over to brush it out of her way.



~Cynthia