TITLE: Florence and Bella Vita

I met Florence in New York City outside a coffee shop...I though she'd make a great subject and although I was on holiday with my husband and children asked her if I could take her photograph. We had a chat and she told me how she had rescued her little dog from the being put to sleep after she had been abandoned; She called her "Bella Vita'" meaning Beautiful Life in recognition of her lucky escape.

AUTHOR: Suzy Mitchell (United Kingdom)

For many years I have worked as a professional photographer mainly capturing children and families. I enjoy making images in Black and White and as time goes on my imagery is taking on a more fine art feel, particularly in respect of my portrait work.
After illness this year I have focussed a little more on my personal work, photography has been therapeutic and rewarding as I recover. I am looking for new projects to undertake, perhaps with a travel element and new subjects to photograph. I love the work of Jean Loup Sieff and if I had my time again would love to have been a fashion photographer!
Our daughters have often been my inspiration and as they grow up they give me new ways and ideas of photographing them...I am definitely shifting away from "lifestyle" imagery, endeavouring to produce more posed, thoughtful images which simultaneously relate something of the subject through the eyes..
My first piece of photographic advice was from my Father who told me to "fill the frame" and unless I am telling a story within an image this is what I seek to do.