Photographers of the Week:
Caitlin Quinn, Kate Smith, Max Carrasco, Ashley Murphy, David Paradela
Chelsea Berry, Zoe Kurtz, Caitlee Carrier, Stephen Snider

I attended the opening of a very special photo exhibit at the Boston Children's Museum last week: Project Tomorrow -- A Young Photographers Initiative photographic project. Nine children ages 10 to 18 with a parent under treatment for cancer at the Massachusetts General Hospital's Cancer Center were given cameras and an assignment: Make a portrait of your parent today that will inspire you to remember what is special about who she or he is tomorrow.

Photographer Paul Denckla then took a photo of each parent and child together. Finally, everyone wrote short essays about what the experience meant to them. The result is a poignant exhibit containing two photos per family -- the image by each child of her or his parent, and Denckla's photo of the pair together -- framed by the essays.

This gallery contains each pair of photos and short excerpts from the essays. (Click the Full-screen link to enlarge and again to return to standard size.) Under the gallery are links to the project website, as well as more details about the exhibit. The visual and narrative window into the special relationship between a sick parent and a child is instructive, compelling -- and a must-see.

You can read the full essays written by the nine parents and children featured here, as well as learn more about this project, at the Young Photographers Initiative website. The exhibit of photos and essays is on display until Nov. 5 at the Boston Children's Museum, 300 Congress Street. It's located in The Gallery on the second floor.