Jesus on the Cross

At U-Turn. Tracey wants to take a picture of Jesus on his Cross outside the local church. We are on walkabout, doing photography. She can’t take the picture because her hands shake as she holds up the camera, and Jesus slips in and out of the frame. ‘I’ll help you,’ I say, steadying her hands. She has Dave Tracey tattooed on her arm.

Shel, Tracey’s sister, is with us too. She wants a picture of Jesus on the Cross for her boyfriend. ‘Our men are Catholics,’ she says. Their other sister, Susie, has gone to spend £1,700 social back-pay on the crack pipe. The money arrived today.

‘They’re drug addicts, Susie and her boyfriend. They just disappear into the bedroom with the pipe,’ Shel says.

It’s cold outside but Tracey’s only got a T-shirt on. She’s 43, having hot flushes, the change of life. Her hair is steel, edged with white.

‘Can you take a picture of Jesus for me?’ she asks. ‘It is for our boyfriends. They’re Catholics.’

‘You can do it,’ I tell her.

‘No, I can’t. I can’t do it.’

‘You can. Here, let me help you. Come on.’ I take her closer to the statue and hold her hands around the camera, framing Jesus. I have to be firm to steady them.

‘Press the button,’ I say.

She’s pushing on another part of the camera. I wait for her finger to find the shutter. ‘Now. Press now,’ I say.

Look. It’s Jesus suffering in the sun. Low-contrast Autumn light.

‘It’s lovely.’ Tracey looks at the image. Shel looks at it.

‘You did that,’ I say.

‘I never done that before,’ says another Tracey, ducked-under quarter smile.

‘Look what you did. It’s beautiful,’ I say.

Comments

[Mike Marcus]

"‘Look what you did. It’s beautiful,’ I say."

And so is the work that you are doing.

[Leila]

Mike - thanks so much for that. It really means a lot to me to hear. How are you? Where are you? L x

[Mike Marcus]

Im back in London. I have decided to base myself here from now on. It doesnt mean that I wont be involved in Israel anymore, just that London is now my home.

Im good, I'm having a kinda bumpy start but everythig will be fine once I get a job and settle in.

[Leila]

Good for you, Mike, I know it's time. It will be fine. x

[oehalim]

hi friends
thanks for israel

Egypt violated the rights of Sudanese refugees
More than 10000 refugees, mostly in Egyptian prisons
Egyptian authorities have killed more than 100 of them
They resort to Israel to receive the safty of injustice Egyptian authorities, what is happening is a shame in the face of humanity
In my blog was portrayed by the suffering of these

Am asudanes bloger inegypt
Thank you for your suppo