ENTRY DESCRIPTION
1. Can you tell our audience how the "Sweet Life" project began for you?
Several years ago, Hulston Cancer Center approached me to document nine cancer survivors for a permanent collection in their hospital-to date I have photographed portraits of over 100 cancer survivors. Hulston came to me due to their strong connection with and belief in my photography work. They were drawn by the artistic power that my clean, simple, truthful portraits have with engaging, touching and inspiring people.

I was thrilled and honored to be asked to capture these special people and I quickly determined that I did not want to focus on the pain, scars, anguish and other negative aspects of the disease. Instead, I wanted to portray the hope, love, strength and even joy in the midst of the battle. Thus, the title and project, "Sweet Life" was born.

2. What has been your approach to documenting your subjects, your mindset?
Not only with "Sweet Life", but with all of my visual work in general, I approach my subjects realizing a simple fact, yet as humans we so easily forget -- life is a miracle and that even though there are over 7 billion people in the world, each-and-every-one of us is important with a life and story that matters. We are all special.

I strive to connect deeply with my subjects, gaining their trust and getting them to grab onto the power of their story and their unique qualities as an individual. I want my subjects to openly reveal their heart and the true, special person they are, whatever that entails: the good, bad, emotions, scars, beauty and all.

As I often say, "Ultimately, for me, portrait artwork should grab you by the heart first, speak to your mind second.

AUTHOR
Randy Bacon is an American photographer with an extensive history in portrait, commercial and documentary photography, both motion and still. Randy is also co-founder and artist behind all of the photography and cinematography of the nonprofit, people empowering story movement, 7 Billion Ones.

Residing in Springfield, Missouri, Randy has been shooting professionally since 1984 and is in high demand as a portrait, editorial and commercial shooter, as well as, a noted highly sought after public speaker.

He has built a strong local/regional client base and travels extensively to destinations across the United States, as well as, internationally for client projects.

At the core of Bacon's work is the ability to present emotive visual stories with an underlying sense of narrative. His unique style reflects elements of influential film noir and old masters in painting and photography. However, after 30 years, this simple, yet complex, truth, "you were born an original", is still the creative seed that continues to grow his artistry for photography and film.

Bacons says, "I am finding after all these years of tending to this relationship between me and this thing called a camera, I am more passionate than ever about capturing the uniqueness and miracle of life. I am in awe of how each person has a valid, inspiring story that has to be told, and that through these stories this world can be a better place. Photography, to me, is sacred.”

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