Older woman with glasses and earrings holding a young girl dressed in white, sitting in a living room with beige walls and a black couch.

ODE TO OZELLA

my great-grandmother. my nana.

A black-and-white birthday poster featuring a photograph of a woman with glasses and curly hair, smiling. The words 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' are at the top, and it is for Zell Lewis, celebrating on August 7. The poster includes a list of family members: Odel
Two women in black velvet dresses and hats standing next to each other indoors in front of a brick fireplace and wooden wall, smiling at the camera.
A woman, a child, and another woman sitting on a dark blue velvet couch in a living room, with the child in the middle holding hands with both women.
Group of five people, including children, sitting on the floor in a living room, smiling at the camera.
A young girl with colorful braids sitting on a kitchen counter with an older woman and a man smiling nearby.
A young girl and an older woman are leaning on a wooden dining table with a red and gray EasyBake oven in the center. The girl is wearing a white top and shorts, and the woman is in a beige top and red pants. They are facing each other, with the girl

i like to think that my nana guided me into photography.

after her passing in 2023, i spent a week in her home going through her belongings. at the time, i knew i wanted to get into “old cameras” but that’s about as much as i knew.

i stumbled upon a handlful of cameras in her home— a 35mm yashica, a super 8, and the cutest little 110 camera.

when i got back home, i took my newfound collection into the tacoma photo center for the first time to get some insight about them. little did i know that this short visit would open up a world of opportunity for me…

so thank you, nana, for leaving behind your cameras for me to enjoy and having them be the thing that opened this never-ending can of worms.

A woman with glasses, smiling, sitting in a vintage kitchen with a floral dress and holding a glass. A pie is on the counter nearby. The background shows a wooden dining area with a table, chairs, and a wall decorated with photographs.
A woman standing indoors in front of a pink wall decorated with a mirror and plants, smiling at the camera.
Decorative card spelling out the word 'NANA' with each letter decorated with colorful stickers, rhinestones, and floral embellishments, set against a pink floral patterned background.
A woman, a man, and a young child sitting on a black couch inside a home. The woman is wearing glasses and white clothing, looking at the child. The man is smiling widely, also in white clothing, facing the camera. In the background, a kitchen with a
A woman with large glasses and curly hair holding a young child in a room with a TV, a small table, and toys in the background.
Family group photo in a kitchen, featuring adults and children, some smiling and some with neutral expressions.