Here is Jessica Todd Harper's third photobook with eighty-four full-page photos. They capture her family and friends relaxing around the house in situations that you might think hardly merit a second look as they seem so every day, but look carefully at each photo and some wonderful compositions and feelings become apparent.
Harper's use of natural light streaming through windows gives her the chance to focus on the emotional aspect of the individuals in the photo. The cover shows her looking lovingly at recently born son William with the light highlighting both faces. It reminded me of a similar shot by Elliott Erwitt in the first few pages of the Family of man book. There is another lovely photo of father and son laying on a bed, it's called: Lord of the Rings. Did Harper pose this or did she just come across the two of them reading the book, I don't think it matters because it's such a lovely image.
Not every photo works, of course, I would have preferred fewer that have the children looking at the camera, it reduces the spontaneity of capturing the moment. Most of the photos are taken in the home, a natural family location and Harper makes good use of the ability to create darker areas by partially closing doors to create streams of light to reveal children's faces. This is shown in a lovely shot of three children playing on a carpet, it's called June with Catherine and Henry, taken in 2017.
The photos were taken between 2015 and 2022 and the book has two illustrated essays. It was printed with a two hundred screen on a good quality semi-matt paper.
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