A Legacy is what a person provides to the Earth throughout one’s life; what is left when they have passed. One contribution that a many people leave behind and is necessary for the human race to survive are children. However, the importance of children to the world in order to continue civilization is not the main theme of this photo, rather, the relationship between a parent and their child during the parent’s lifetime.

     In the photo, the black background is to symbolize the wholeness and plenitude of love people experience from their family. Many people value family more than anything. The emptiness of the black shows the lack of items that are more important than family. While others value things like money and material items more highly, this focuses on the perspective that family is the only necessity. The child is grabbing the pinky of her presumed mother because pinkies represent promises. When a child is born a loving mother promises her child to give him or her the best life possible. This promise is not a verbal or written promise, but an emotional vow that is represented in the picture. The child is not locking her pinky with the mother, not just because her pinky is too small, but to represent a child’s reliance and need for a loving parent. To a child, their parents are their entire world.

      Photos of children are some of my favorite compositions and this is my first attempt at using a child in my work. I have a new-found respect for those who use babies in their works, it is extremely challenging. Not surprising the baby would not listen. It was extremely frustrating as my original ideas were not being executed to my expectation I soon realized I needed to be more flexible and be happy as I got a picture before she started to cry.