Mark Twain once said, “It is to live twice when we can enjoy the
recollections of our former life.”  To me, this statement is not just philosophically correct, but literally perfect as well; as demonstrated by our fondness of taking photos, sharing photos and reviewing them throughout our lives.   Like a certain song, a certain fragrance, or a certain memory, photographs capture time and then give us the opportunity to recollect and revisit a former period of our life.

We record all aspects of our lives, including the beginning of our journey with a special loved one in engagement and marriage, formal portraits, and the much anticipated beginning or addition to our new families through child birth.   We memorialize achievement in school, in sports, in friendship, in careers, in age and in life.

Fond reflections come easy on the last photo of a grandparent or the first family photo when we, as young children, can remember fuming over our parents demands to get dressed up. “Smile pretty now,” or “Say Cheese!” they would say.   The fits we had, only to calm down long enough to give the camera a pleasing grin.   A look that 10, 20, or 30 years later brings moisture to our eyes for the memory of our own youthful innocence and wonder.  

It is with this recollection of our former lives in mind that I created my philosophy in artistic portraiture.   My intent and goal is to capture not just the subject, but to capture the moment and time.    No pinning angel’s wings on the backs of newborns.   No sitting toddlers in pumpkins or other seasonal paraphernalia.   No distracting backdrops drawing attention away from the all too important subject. 

My focus is simply on the subject and the subject’s relationship with the lens  . . . capturing life.

- Bob Thompson,  December 2006  
(above photo courtesy of Michelle Thompson)

Phone: 815.288.7774           Contact:  fynnimage@gmail.com