Ana Carolina Furtado

After my dad died of cancer, I continued to appreciate the life and photography lessons he had taught me. Photography helped connect me to the people in my life and brought me joy in my times of grief and sadness. My camera lets me appreciate the small moments in my daily life, like a ray of light streaming through a window or my family coming together at the end of the day. After my mom started breast cancer treatments, my family needed to come together in ways we never had before. My mom and I also joined a local church and, together, began to find fulfillment in helping others in need. My mother’s faith has helped her overcome her grief to find happiness in a community of like-minded individuals.

My Into the Light portfolio portrays my mother of the last few years over her journey. Beginning from a period of grief to prayer to joy. My mother prays daily whether in church or at home. She has areas around the house dedicated to her Catholicism, like her closet. They are sanctuaries from the storm that have seen her through this day.