Emotional Influence

I have a passion for people. Nothing speaks to me more than a person in a picture. Any race, ethnic origin, religion, age or gender - National Geographic's Afghan Girl springs to mind. (Please click on the link - the read is sooo worth it!)

I was sitting alone on a beach in South Africa after a lovely day with my family. When a woman walked past me. She was carrying avocado pears that she had been selling. The thoughts that went through my mind as she passed were, where is she going, has she sold enough avos, how many mouths does she have to feed, will she be safe tonight, will she be warm and how does she manage to do this day in day out? I stole this picture of her.

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa 2010

Whenever I look at the picture I always feel the same way I felt that day while taking it, then resting the camera on my lap, and watching her disappear over the rocks.