It’s one thing to make a picture of what a person looks like,
it’s another thing to make a portrait of who they are.
~. Paul Caponigro 
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Early in my time in Beirut, I became interested in photography. I scrimped and saved so I could buy a good camera and I learned how to use it. 

As a class, we decided it would be fun for me to do a portrait of each student as a gift to their families as a holiday gift.

What a different world from today! Both film and developing were expensive. As always, teachers’ salaries were low to begin with but mine was now less than half what I made teaching in the US. I had very little discretionary money so this was a big commitment.

In most cases, I would take one – and only one – black and white shot of each student. Then I would go to the developer, and have him make a contact sheet for me. If there was a good image, that child’s portrait was done. If not, I would take one more shot. Off to the developer again. Of course, in those days, there was no Photoshop so I could not change the exposure or touch up the photos myself. It was a ‘what you see is what you get’ world. 

Then, when there was one good image of each child on the contact sheets, I had the chosen images made into photographs. I loved doing this project. It was another way for me to ‘see’ each child in a new way. The families loved the portraits, too. In fact, some were quite moved to see the beauty in their children at school.        

I am still in touch with several of these ‘children’. They are now in their 60s. They have become actors, artists, writers, dancers, therapists, doctors, astrophysicists, archeologists, diplomats, business owners, mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers. I may be exaggerating but I don’t think so. Blessed be!               

Photos by Barbara
Beirut, Lebanon