Photography has given me many wonderful gifts. I had many careers actress, model, EMT, Medical technician. I wanted to be a doctor. However my first photograph was taken when my son was 18 months of age.This began an extraordinary journey. He will be 55 years old in January. I am grateful for the opportunity to have met photographers, people who let me photograph them, not only for the Times ,Associated Press and other publications, because I explained to them why I wanted their photograph. I was able to give them the photograph and this was a wonderful feeling. It was my hope to make a difference to make people aware of problems no one noticed. Because of what I photographed, I hoped there was an awareness of the homeless, children with AIDS, abuse of children etc.Holocaust Survivors, many who are not alive since I photographed them. I have had 7 books published, my first book, by Aperture, Light and Shadow, many exhibitions, the biggest was recently in Wetzlar Germany at LEICA where they exhibited 100 photographs of well known photographers. I had been admiring all the wonderful photographers and one by one, for many years, I asked if they would let me photograph them....and all of them were gracious and kind more then 100 agreed. "I dreamed a dream" may be what I have written as submission title, but I never dreamed I could accomplish and do what I have done in the many years I have photographed. It is who I am. I photograph what I care about and have been fortunate to have met people who have encouraged and guided me. Cornell Capa, when he first saw my photographs said"you take pretty pictures Yaffa, but what are you going to say?.."It is my hope it has made a difference.., I will continue to dream my dreams as long as I can. ©claireyaffa
