Tom Hussey's "Reflections of the Past", 2010

Hussey's image of a woman looking in a mirror
and seeing her younger self.

Reflections of the Past

I would like to say that I am wholly impressed with the composition of these images. And I'm using the term "composition" in two ways. First, I enjoy the causal, everyday settings that these people are placed in.  Daily activities and unassuming positions feel like you are in the room with the individuals as they are going about their day.  Secondly, I'm impressed with the digital composition of the images.  The lighting and color in the reflections match the lighting falling on the individual in the "present day" scenario. The amount of patience and skill that requires is exceptional.

This exhibit was created in 2010 for a pharmaceutical client, Novartis, after they saw his first image. It seems that Hussey's inspiration may have been a continuation of his thesis work which sought to portray a visual, more realistic and thus deeper understanding of the veterans of the Vietnam War.  He procured artifacts, researched correspondence and testimonials and created images that would tell the story of these individuals.  The portraits of the individuals he interviewed are powerful, black and white and very personal.  The eye contact of the individuals almost seems to pierce through time and the camera and they are looking AT you.

Personally, what I can take from this, is inspiration to keep going with my own photography and look for ways to integrate archives and make something tangible that can be shared.

I was first introduced to his work via this article: Elderly People Look At Their Younger Reflections In This Beautiful Photo Series By Tom Hussey.

Other references include
"'ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU... ' Understanding Veterans of the Vietnam Era" by Tom Hussey, thesis paper.
American Society of Media Photographers
American Society of Media Photographers: Best of 2010: Tom Hussey