Harry Callahan, Untitled (#6), from the series Women Lost in Thought, 1950
I’m interested in revealing the subject in a new way to intensify it. A photo is able to capture a moment that people can’t always see. Wanting to see more makes you grow as a person and growing makes you want to show more of life around you I do believe strongly in photography and hope by following it intuitively that when the photographs are looked at they will touch the spirit in people
(Harry Callahan, 1963)
This wonderful photo belongs to a series called “Women Lost in Thought”, a masterpiece by Harry Callahan. Callahan wanted to penetrate in human condition, by focusing in normal people around him, passing by the streets.
After trying with a series of photographs of everyday actions, he realized that what really interested him was the expression of the people immersed in their thoughts, a flash of maximum privacy. In order to take these pictures without being noticed, he should become one more of the pedestrians, take the photographs quickly, from a distance, without stop walking, and achieve a close-up. He solved this situation by experimenting with a very rapid exposure, and pre-focusing the camera for the distance at which an average head, from chin to hairline, would fill the horizontal negative. In this way, he achieved one of the most breathtaking series of portraits of the history of photography.
Candid headshot of woman by Harry Callahan on the busy streets of Chicago in the fifties. He used 35 mm film—the fastest film speed available at the time—with his telephoto lens set at four feet and his wife Eleanor became one of his most famous subjects.
A/N:Requested by a very lovely and courteous anon. I apologize for the wait time and I thank you for being so patient with me.
~*~
Because Harry is really kinda reserved when it comes to public displays of affection, it shouldn’t come as any shock that in a public setting he probably won’t snuggle up close to you. If you should cuddle up close to him in public though he’ll most likely go stiff and cast a questioning look in your direction.
In the privacy of your own space though it’s a different story. He loves to cuddle with you in the comfort of your own home when it’s just the two of you, it doesn’t matter if you initiate it or he does either.
If you’re both on the couch watching T.V. for example, it’s normally you that makes the move over to him, curling up beside him and resting your head on his shoulder, hand coming to rest on his chest. This action will be met with a smile from him as he pulls you even closer, his arm wrapping tightly around your waist to hold you.
He’ll normally end up placing a gentle kiss on your temple before moving to rest his head on top of yours, secretly delighting in the soft and gentle caress of your finger tips that trace patterns on the fabric of his shirt, the sensation leaving goosebumps on his chest under the fabric.
He’s not really a man that likes to rest his head in your lap and allow to to affectionately card your fingers through his hair, sometimes he may have to follow a lead and doesn’t have time to worry about fixing his hair again.
It’s not very often that it happens, but if he’s had a particularly taxing day, he’ll lay down on the couch and ask if you’d mind messaging his shoulders. Of course, you oblige him, working out the tension the best you can all the while loving the fact that he trusts you enough to allow you to do this for him.
The massage session usually ends with him pulling you down on top of his back by grabbing your wrist and giving you a gentle tug, eliciting a laugh from you which in turn earns a chuckle from him. It’s not too awfully long that your in this position though, because before too long he’s turned so he can hold you in his arms, peppering the side of your head and your jawline with kisses until he dozes off until bed.
If you do on a very rare occasion go out to a party or get together, Harry isn’t really one that is going to have his arms wrapped around your waist or have you sat on his lap. The closest thing to cuddling in public you’ll get is him holding your hand.
When it’s time for bed, depending on who gets in bed first, (generally Harry is the first one there.) determines which one of you reaches out to the other.
You’ll either end up being the little spoon, which Harry no doubt initiates as he likes to hold you in his arms so you feel safe and sound and there’s not a doubt in your mind that you won’t be protected.
When you end up being the little spoon, it normally leads to Harry placing soft kisses on your neck and playfully nipping at your earlobe. Which leads to you giggling, a sound that brings out his lighter and softer side, that can sometimes lead to tickling you.
Or, you’ll end up in the half-spoon position with your head resting on his chest as he gently runs his fingers through your hair.
When you end up in the half-spoon position, you normally spend time talking about your day as well as Harry’s day as his fingers trace patterns over your exposed skin.
You’re normally the first one to start getting tired as you lay there listening to his heartbeat and absorbing his body heat, your eyelids grow heavy and threatening to close.
A sight that causes a smile to cross his face as he kisses you softly on the forehead and gives you a tight squeeze before turning the light off and whispering, “good night, Baby”.
