I just got a call from a reporter from the Orange County Register. They are publishing one of my photos along with a short essay I wrote in the Sunday paper. As a writer, it is not the first time I've had photos published, but this is a very special photograph with a lot of personal meaning. It is one of my youngest sister who had inflammatory breast cancer and I shot a photo of her bare chest after her mastectomy. It is a disturbing photo, and quite controversial, but when you read the essay that goes with it, you will understand the reasoning behind it. She wanted people to see what a mastectomy looks like cuz most people don't ever get to see that. People look at the photograph and they say, "Oh my god...." and look horrified, disgusted, shocked and don't even want to look at it, but she looks at it every day and isn't allowed to express anger without people saying "Just be thankful you are alive..." She IS thankful she is alive and she IS angry that her chest had to be carved up like a rump roast and her body poisnoned and nuked to allow her to live and just wanted folks to allow her both those feelings. My mom had a mastectomy and another sister is currently recovering from one and they both feel exactly the same way. Hence the photo.
After it is published I might post it here, with a "warning, graphic photo" or something cuz I wouldn't want to upset any of the forum members. I'm not sure. I'm curious about the reaction that other photographers would have to this photo. Any thoughts?
