TWO PERSPECTIVES ON HOPE

Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all, 

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

-Emily Dickinson

Hope Was but a timid friend;
She sat without the grated den,
Watching how my fate would tend,
Even as selfish-hearted men. 

She was cruel in her fear;
Through the bars one dreary day,
I looked out to see her there,
And she turned her face away!

Like a false guard, false watch keeping,
Still, in strife, she whispered peace;
She would sing while I was weeping;
If I listened, she would cease.

False she was, and unrelenting;
When my last joys strewed the ground,
Even Sorrow saw, repenting,
Those sad relics scattered round;

Hope, whose whisper would have given
Balm to all my frenzied pain,
Stretched her wings, and soared to heaven,
Went, and ne’er returned again!

-Emily Bronte

The narrative structure of these transplant stories is deeply informed by my studies in the Harvard ALM Creative Writing and Literature program, where I explore the synergy between clinical empathy and visual storytelling. For my Master’s Capstone project, I am conducting in-depth interviews and creating editorial portraits of transplant recipients and long-term survivors. To capture the profound stories of these human journeys, I utilize a selection of high-fidelity equipment: the Phase One IQ3 100 Achromatic and Hasselblad CFV 100C digital backs on the Cambo WRS 1600 technical camera for rich and layered detail, and the Hasselblad X2D 100C and Leica M11 for intimate environmental portraiture. When precise light shaping is required, I rely on Profoto studio lighting to reveal the nuanced resilience of my subjects.

Medical professionals in an operating room holding a patient's hand during surgery, with medical equipment and monitors in the background.
A team of surgeons operating in an operating room with medical equipment and monitors, with a patient on the operating table.
Medical professionals in an operating room performing a procedure on a patient, with one holding medical tools and the patient covered with a blanket.
Close-up of a black and white photography of a pair of small scissors hanging from a bag or fabric material.
A healthcare professional in surgical scrubs, mask, and head covering preparing for surgery in a hospital setting.
A doctor or surgeon wearing a surgical cap, mask, and magnifying glasses with a light, concentrating during a medical procedure.
A patient lying in a hospital bed with a nasal oxygen tube and an IV drip, holding hands with a person standing next to the bed in an ICU or hospital emergency room.
Close-up of surgical forceps and medical tags on a dark surface, with a blurred background of more surgical tools.
A printed paper with instructions and a picture, taped to a wall or cabinet, with a background of organized small drawers.
A display of various medical supplies organized in shelves, including silk ties, prolenes, and ethibond sutures, each labeled with specific codes and sizes.
Medical waste including used gloves, a plastic bag, and a biohazard label on a contaminated surface.
Medical professionals in surgical attire performing a procedure on a patient in an operating room.
Surgeons performing a delicate surgical procedure in a sterile environment.
Surgeons perform surgery on a patient, with two surgeons holding the patient's head and a clear plastic bag surrounding the patient.
Surgeons performing a heart transplant in an operating room.
Medical professionals in protective gear performing a surgical procedure in an operating room.
Medical professionals in surgical attire handling a human organ, possibly for transplantation, with surgical tools on a table.
A nurse in surgical attire handling a cat in a sterile environment, preparing it for surgery in a veterinary clinic.
Two healthcare workers wearing gloves and protective gowns are sealing a plastic bag containing a specimen or medical waste over a metal basin in a dimly lit medical setting.
A patient lying on a hospital bed in an intensive care unit, surrounded by medical equipment, monitors, and IV lines.
A patient lying on an operating table in an operating room with medical staff and equipment around.
Two healthcare professionals wearing protective gear performing surgery in an operating room.
Medical professionals in protective gear perform a procedure or surgery in a dimly lit hospital operating room.
Medical team performing surgery in an operating room, with doctors in scrubs and masks working around a patient under a surgical drape.
Surgical team in an operating room performing surgery on a patient, with medical equipment and monitors visible in the background.
Medical instruments such as scissors, forceps, and syringes are arranged on a table, along with a medicine dropper in a glass. A plastic bowl sits in the background, with a cloth or towel underneath the instruments.
Medical tools like scissors, forceps, and syringes are laid out on a table, possibly at a medical or surgical setting.
Black and white photo of healthcare workers in surgical masks and caps in an operating room, focusing on a nurse or doctor examining a patient.
Two surgical staff members in protective gear including masks, gowns, and shoe covers, standing and posing in a hospital operating room.
Two healthcare professionals dressed in blue surgical scrubs, masks, and foot covers inside a hospital room, with medical equipment and a wall-mounted monitor showing vital signs behind them.
A team of surgeons and medical staff performing surgery in an operating room, with surgical instruments and equipment on a nearby table.
A surgical team performing an operation in an operating room filled with medical equipment and supplies.
A surgical team performing an operation in an operating room, with medical equipment, monitors, and supplies visible.
Two healthcare professionals in scrubs and masks working at a medical station in a hospital room.
Hospital or medical facility whiteboard with medical supplies list, including numbers for each item, labels, and notes, mounted on the wall in a clinical setting.
A fully equipped hospital operating room with medical staff in scrubs and masks preparing for surgery, featuring operating lights, monitors, and medical equipment.