The Last Photograph of Mary Mora in New Mexico

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

This is the last photograph that I made of Mary Mora. After we had sat at the table in the bar and talked for a while, she said she was tired and was going to go to bed. It was about 3pm, but she sleeps a lot now because of her health problems. She was headed back to the living quarters behind the bar, where she has lived for decades. She was 95 years old when I made this photograph on August 15, 2011. I will probably not be able to go back to New Mexico again before she passes away.

 

[paulfish4570]

a fine memory there in a fine photograph.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

That's a fine image, Chris. It doesn't even need the background story to be a great one that speaks for itself. Thanks for posting it.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I like it a lot too. I was afraid it wouldn't come out, she was moving pretty fast for an old woman who complained a few minutes earlier about how hard walking was for her. I was shooting Delta 3200 and even with that, exposure was 1/15 at f4, handheld. I kept focusing and snapping fast, and got four shots off. This was the only one that was perfectly sharp, it was the last of the shots!

 

[robklurfield]

That's perfect and wonderful. The little bit of vignetting and the fact the she's walking away from us adds some special poignancy here as she heads to wherever. This is why it's good that we have photography and photographers. You've captured a slice of time that won't be viewed again.

 

[gavinlg]

This is my favorite photograph of the series. Superb.

 

[dreilly]

Very precious image, Chris, and a great way to cap off this series. We had a bar like this in Geneva, with a similarly crusty and wonderful owner. He closed up and is still alive, but like I sense with Mary, the place is the person in large part. There are not many places like this in the world. Thanks for sharing your thoughtful work with us!