• erica & i - AMY POWELL | Photographer

amy powell
amy powell photography
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erica & I

Amy: Do you remember this?

Erica: Yee es.

Amy: What do you remember?

Erica: (No response)

Amy: What do you see?

Erica: It's covered in ice.

Amy: What else?

Erica: I see ice on my window. I see a wall. I see the wood. And what is that, a handle?

Amy: To open or close the window.

Erica: I was closing my eyes. Or looking out the window. I see my hair, my face, and that's all.

Amy: Do you think you should be allowed to do that?

Erica: Noooo.

Amy: Why not?

Erica: (no response)

Amy: What's going on here?

Erica: We took a picture. I'm not going to talk anymore. That's all I wanna talk about.

When my mother gave birth to my half-sister Erica, I was twenty years old. Sitting in the hospital room with my camera at 4 a.m., mom made giving birth look easy. I photographed as Erica made her way into the world, cut her umbilical cord myself, and was the very first person to hold her. In that moment I gave her a name she didn't get to keep. And she peed on me.

Ever since, photographing Erica has been a window into my own elusive childhood.

The front yard became a pumpkin patch after Erica planted a pumpkin seed the year before.

Summer.

Playing basketball in the frontyard.

A young squirrel lost his mother.

Watching cartoons and doing headstands.

Mom: The sun is like a blanket. It keeps her warm.

Crawling on the truck on mom's birthday.

Beagles smile for every picture.

Mom thinks the Christmas lights look like something else.

After Emmet Gowin.

Cassie is an airplane dog.

Erica with her toys and a sliver of sunshine.

Mom says her hugs last long after she lets go.

Amy: Tell me what you think.

Erica: I see my mom. I see my mom's car. I see my dad's truck. I see trees. I see you.

Amy: You've told me before that this is one of your favorites. Why do you like it?

Erica: I don't know. I can see you taking a picture of me.

Amy: Do you like it when I take pictures of you?

Erica: Yes.

Amy: Why?

Erica: I don't know.

Amy: How does it make you feel?

Erica: That's all (shrugs shoulders). I'm done talking.

Erica: I see my camera. I see your camera. You always print your pictures big. It ain't fair. I want mine big. Can you get me more cameras again for Christmas next year?

Amy: Sure, why do you want more cameras?

Erica: I like taking pictures.

Amy: What do you like to take pictures of?

Erica: My toys. Hannah Montana. My mom. My princess tent. You got that tent for me, and now it's broken.

Amy: Anything else you like to photograph?

Erica: I think that's it mommy... I mean Amy!