Henry and I had been speaking about the possibility of him sitting for the project. A short while after his dad died he decided that it was time, so we set off on an early morning hike close to where I was living at the time. It was the end of August and still quite chilly out, so I boiled some water and packed things to make us some coffee once we got to the top and found a little spot to sit and reflect.

It’s not a difficult or long hike and once we got to the top I feel time kind of extended. Now that might just have been the heightened emotions or time might have gone by slower as we spoke intimately, but the short time we were up there felt like hours. As the sun rose I remember feeling the warmth on my face and it feeling incredible.
After we had, had our coffee and listened, spoke and reflected we hiked back down and drove back to my apartment to go and make the portrait.

Words by Henry

“They say that time heals all wounds, but really all that happens is that you learn to be with the grief, to grow alongside it. A year and two months on from the passing of my dad and the thing that catches me most is the knowledge that there won’t be another conversation. No more advice, no more hugs, no more dad. Time has helped me grow, but it hasn’t decreased the pain.
Dankie Bernard for what was, at the time, the most cathartic and necessary experience.“