University Exercise – The Distance Between Us
Use your camera as a measuring device. This doesn’t refer to the distance scale on the focus ring. Rather, find a subject that you have an empathy with and take a sequence of shots to ‘explore the distance between you’.
In this exercise, I explored the concept of distance—emotional, geographical, and generational—through family photos and my son’s reactions to them. Given that my son is only 2 years old, he may not fully understand the context or significance of the images. Instead, I focused on capturing his reactions as he looked at the photos, while reflecting on the distance they represent from my own perspective.
For my select image I chose Fig.1. of my toddler sat between all of the photos and looking at a photo of his dad and I on a holiday we had in Mexico in 2020 before the pandemic hit. The fact that he has all of the images of family members around from different distances in his life, he selected the image of the people who started his own life.
In this image, the circular arrangement of family photos surrounding my son is symbolic of how family surrounds us, both emotionally and generationally. The photos span across time and space, showing relatives from different eras and locations, yet they all come together around him. The circle suggests that, despite these gaps, family remains connected, regardless of the ‘distances’—whether he understands it yet or not.
His selection of the photograph was instinctive. Surrounded by images of family members, he reaches for a picture of his dad and me—a moment from our life together. In choosing this photo, he reflects the emotional closeness he naturally feels with us, the people who are present in his world.
This image also speaks to the legacy that will shape his understanding of family. The framed black-and-white photos represent generational distance, reminding us of relatives who lived before him. Other images show family members who live far away, separated by geographical distance, while some show relatives who, though once close, now feel distant due to emotional differences.
As he grows older, these distances—whether through time, space, or emotion—will become clearer to him. Yet, he is already becoming part of a story where he will form his very own distances.
Personal Reflection:
My dad has always had an interest in exploring our family tree. Although I may lack the patience for this kind of research, I find it fascinating to see photos of old relatives and reflect on the generational distance between us and the lives they lived before us.
In families, emotional distances can also arise due to differences in opinions, family history, or personality clashes. I relate to this within my own immediate family, and sadly, my little one may experience distance from individuals who have been quite close to me at one time in my life but no longer are.
Geographical distance is another significant factor. With family spread across the UK, Spain, and even America, there’s an emotional and generational closeness that is affected by the physical distance. This geographic separation creates a barrier that sometimes makes maintaining close relationships challenging.
In the end, my son’s innocent curiosity remind us that while distances—be they emotional, geographical, or generational—shape our relationships, the simplest moments can often bridge the gaps between them.
Crawling over these images of family, at just two years old, for now his journey is just a beautiful reminder that sometimes the most meaningful connections are felt rather than fully understood.
