The project “A portrait, a family” consists in photographing a child carrying an extra chromosome with a parent, a brother or a sister. It is organized by the association Trisomie 21 Var, which has the occasion of its 40 years of existence, plans other sessions!
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That Sunday, in Toulon, 10 member families of Trisomy 21 Var have the same date. At the headquarters of the association, a make-up artist is present, as is a professional photographer, Priscilla G. Enza, Jeanne, Justine, Louis or Kamil, their father, their mother or their brother or sister have every intention of having a good time for an afternoon “photo shoot”.
Make-up, hairstyle, nothing is left to chance.
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© Gaëlle Carra / FTV
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Priscilla has a mission: to bring out in each shot the similarities, not the differences. Because the genetic heritage is almost the same, because in a family, there is love.
Down’s syndrome, the sky that falls on your head
The Trisomy 21 is a genetic defect that occurs during cell division. It results from the presence of an extra chromosome on the 21st pair of chromosomes. Instead of having a total of 46 chromosomes, the individual with Down’s syndrome has 47. It is the leading cause of mental handicap. One in 800 children are born with one extra chromosome (the percentage varies depending on the mother’s age).
Barbara Botella is the mother of 22-year-old Enza.
Barbara and her daughter during the photoshoot.
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© Gaëlle Carra / FTV
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She explains very simply that the photo is not always synonymous with happiness when a different child has just arrived.
At the moment of birth, the sky falls on your head. We take birth photos like all mothers because we have no choice. It gives me joy that people think of us, that they look at us differently. The gaze of people is not easy every day …
“A portrait, a family” is therefore a first organized by the association Trisomie 21 Var on the occasion of its 40th anniversary. Barbara Pourcin is the vice-president of this association. For her, this meeting is essential.
Not everyone likes to be photographed. It’s not easy anyway! Today is a moment of joy, 20 years later, I really enjoyed taking this photo with my daughter.
The proof by the image:
A mother and her daughter.
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© Gaëlle Carra / FTV
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Sessions, there will be others. Of the 40 members of the association, half have started.
Dad and baby.
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© Gaëlle Carra / FTV
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It is precisely so that the gaze of others changes, whether it is less insistent or less burdensome, that an exhibition then a book will follow these few Sundays of photo shoots.
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