Hank and Jan Timmerman, Married 53 years
Just two weeks ago I went back to my roots in the heartland of America, where the Missouri River cuts between Nebraska and Iowa. I went for a reunion of sorts to visit a couple who for that last 33 years have been closer to me than my real parents. It was a bitter sweet reunion because although Jan and Hank were just as I remembered them, this time I knew it might be the last time I would get to see them together. Hank is in the latter stages of congestive heart failure and the doctors have given him as little as three months left to live. We of course are praying that God will extend Hank’s health and time with us here on earth, but we are also assured that Hank is going home soon to be with his heavenly Father.
I was so blessed to be able to go back and spend a week with them. We played cards and visited about when I was a child and how lovingly they invited me over for meals, took me out to dinner with them and took me to church. Jan’s cheerful cackling laugh and joyous spirit that overflows with endless humming and singing was as comforting today as it had been all those years ago. I can’t tell you how many times we both said we wished I lived closer. It breaks my heart that I can’t be with them more, especially now when time seems so short and they seem to need so much more love and support.
I took my camera and knew I wouldn’t leave without getting portraits of the two of them. They live a simple life and something like professional portraits would not even come to mind as a need little alone something they must do. But as a professional photographer, I know how important these pictures will be to me and also to Jan and her children and grandchildren in the months and years to come.
Now Hank’s health is not very strong. While I was there he had his good days and his bad. He needed to have breathing treatments and oxygen and couldn’t go too far. So I prepared them and myself for this session. The last evening before I left I had picked out two spots for the portraits. One in their neighbor’s yard, where the foliage was nice and the light would be good, and one just around the corner where there was a nice white fence and a bank of trees that would be in perfect light just near sunset. With only my camera, a tripod, a step ladder and kitchen stool, we completed the whole session in about 20 minutes. I even managed to get into a couple of the photos with them.
I am delighted with the way the portraits turned out and am so excited to send Jan and Hank prints and two framed wall portraits–one of the two of them together and one of Hank alone. The lighting and color was good out of the camera, but my attention to detail and desire to perfect the images meant many hours of skilled retouching. Retouching is certainly an art form, especially when you are wanting to keep the integrity of the elder persons characteristics, but still make them look their best. I’ve included a few before and afters so you can really appreciate the difference.
Notice the original image inset--post-session cropping is very common to get the best composition
Hank Timmerman, All American Cowboy and Horseman
Many hours can go into retouching a session, particularly for wall portraits were details will be seen large and up close. The best retouching jobs are undetectable without the original image to compare it to. Years go into developing a keen eye for detail and knowing just how to finess an image.
Wendy with Jan and Hank
A loving but fiesty couple.
Wendy with Jan and Hank
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