Photographer Cole Thompson is the Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this portrait/documentary photography. From his series ‘Linnie – A Portrait of Breast Cancer‘. To see Cole’s body of work click on any image.
In July of 2008 I had the privilege of photographing Linnie, she had a rare breast cancer, endured a mastectomy, was undergoing chemotherapy and feared she would not live the year.
She was an acquaintance who purchased The Angel Gabriel and had then asked if I would photograph her and her mastectomy, as she felt there was good to be done by this act. I was uncomfortable for several reasons; I have never been good at photographing people and portrait photography requires special skills that I do not possess. Then of course, there was the subject matter; terrifying, destructive, deadly and very personal. I did not want to do it, but did and I’m grateful for the experience. Linnie is beautiful, dignified, brave and so many other things; it was very humbling to photograph her.
These images may be controversial for some and too private for others. However it is Linnie’s wish that they be shown and good come of them, and that’s as it should be.
By Cole Thompson
