Emile, the beauty of imperfection

• Prize
• Photographer
  Emilie Bonjé, Belgium
• Studio
  Emilie Bonjé Photography

He was born in November 2013: Emile. My sister’s youngest son. After
his mother, his father and the doctors, I was the first person to meet
him. There he lay in the neonatal department, beautiful, peaceful and
absolutely tiny. I could see straight away that he had Down’s
syndrome. It was love at first sight.
The project portrays 51 Belgian children with Down's syndrome, under
the age of 8.
With this project I want to show you how I look at beauty in a portrait.
You're challenged to look at a portrait of a child with down in a
different way.
Children with Down’s syndrome carry authenticity within them in a
strikingly powerful way. They appear to be free from social pressure.
They say what they mean and the face that they present is what they
really are.
You'll get to know the children in their purity, their individuality, their
own beauty.

Awards Publications: 04.15: Belgian Summer - Hooligans Magazine 03.15: Special People - Focus Knack. 03.15: Special People - De Gentenaar. 03.15: Special People - Het Laatste Nieuws. 09.08: Constructions - View Magazine. Competitions: 03.10: Winner International Photocontest at Photofestival Knokke - Constructions 08.08: Winner Emerging talents from Belgian schools of photography - Constructions 12.07: Winner All True Artists - Constructions