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The problem: How to photograph donor recipients and their families, as well as donor’s families, without appearing overly somber or grim. Almost every primary subject in Gary Parker's California Donor Services series would have been dead years ago were it not for the gift of life: a donated organ which saved their lives. Gary's wonderfully upbeat set of images delighted a client who had previously found it tough getting photographs which demonstrated the "joy" organ donation brings to thousands. Gary's infectiously optimistic point-of-view about life, in general, comes through clearly and powerfully in an emotionally charged set of environmental portraits which, at a glance, illustrate the joy which comes from having been given what is truly the "gift of life" in the form of a donated organ. |
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Each one of the key subjects in this series survived the failure of an organ, a failure which only a few years ago would have spelled certain death for these now happy individuals. Today, due to the miracle and relative ease of organ transplants, the subjects and families Gary photographed are not only alive and well but are enjoying family members they would never have seen grow up, grandchildren they would never have known or simply living life wholeheartedly–involved in such activities as tap and swing dancing–as so clearly evidenced by recipient Shirley Chan. |
Gary's agency client was so pleased by his ability to evoke a positive response that they have commissioned him to travel the country to photograph more of this series several other states (these subjects are in California). Although Gary has varied photographic interests and his images have been used to sell everything from computer chips to dog food, he was absolutely thrilled at having been given the opportunity to photograph these folks. "It was truly a ‘mission-from-God’ shoot." To view more of Gary's Donor series, click any of the images above, or here. |
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