Emma’s photographs were beautiful, but they were sad. Emma would photograph homeless people, amputees, lost dogs and hungry children. I have searched all her images and I have not seen a single smile.
Causing me wonder why would a girl with a good life picture such sad images.
After unanswered letters and phone calls I visited Emma’s dad. Her mother (Jenny) had unfortunately died when Emma was 12 the same year her father gave her a camera. However I did meet Emma’s father, Ben. Ben was a butcher who only ever had two real loves, Emma and Emma’s mother, Jenny.
However after Jenny passed away Ben went through several bad relationships. As a matter of fact he married one of his girlfriends, let’s call her Mary. Mary was a scam artist; however Ben was not aware of this when he married her.
Mary was also an abusive alcoholic and when left alone with Emma would hit her then lock her in her room so she could drink. However little did Mary know that Emma would climb out her window and take photos of the city.