On Seeing, A Journal #401

Growing Up: Amy Crandall

October 2, 2020

10 years and 25 years

Esther Crandall, 12 days before birth

I have studied over 200 children from childhood into their 20’s. I began when some were newborns or even in utero, as is the case with Amy.  For all of them, I made annual studio portraits and asked them to write answers to a series of questions, a kind of diary about their lives, their feelings, their hopes, their regrets.

This special young woman, Amy Crandall, was one on of the first kids I had the chance to study. She is featured in my book on newborns.

I always felt so lucky that she participated in this project. And that her mom, Esther was a dancer!  Well, that did it.

Amy has proved to be as remarkable and authentic as any of the other young people I have had the privilege to get to know.

8 days old

2 years

8 years

10 years

11 years

12 years

13 years

14 years

15 years

17 years

20 years

25 years

Esther (mom) and Amy

Thank you, Amy and Esther.
Please do return in a few years.

Note: I am interested in everything about human development, fascinated by maturation, growth, emotional, educational and physical development. This exploration has been a major 30 year odyssey, an adventure that has yielded riches beyond my initial imagining.

Permission was signed by the parents of each and every child every year, and by the participants themselves once they turned 18. In addition, we have now sent copies of all of their writings and edited photographs to the participants for whom I have finished all my editing and have received full permission from that group to publish and post.