Reflected Presence

My parents in their garden while I appear as a reflection, held in my mother's hand. Reflected Presence. Family photo. This photograph holds personal meaning for me. After considering returning to photography about a year and a half ago, focusing this time more on independent work and personal projects rather than primarily commercial tasks as I used to, I had a strong realization: despite years behind the camera, I had never taken a proper portrait of my parents, both now 78. It felt like being a "cobbler without shoes" – taking photos of other people, documenting others' lives but neglecting this essential image of my own family. Taken during a recent Easter visit – perhaps also driven by the feeling that now was the right time, as none of us are getting younger – I wanted to be present with them on the photo somehow, a bit in a way like I'm now - not living with them, distant, maybe making photos somewhere else, but somehow present here, on this photo. The reflection in the mirror became my way of joining the frame; simultaneously the photographer and a son within our family portrait. My mother holding the mirror carries particular weight for me. Her gesture mirrors the situation of me being rarely home, especially knowing she often calls me nightly out of missing me. There were also curious coincidences that my sister recently pointed out: I was 46 when I took the photo, my parents were both born in '46 (making them 78), and I was born in '78. While I don't believe in numerology or horoscopes, preferring observation and reason and so on… So what could I do with these numbers? The last few days when I was still 46 years old before my next birthday. I took a picture. Maybe these numbers add another layer to the moment. Not sure... The backdrop, which I painted myself, is another personal touch in this image. So... Finally, this picture exists, and in it, we are together in a way.