The Brown Sisters by Nicholas Nixon

I would not say that these are my favorite photographs by any stretch.  But despite the fact that neither the subject matter nor the composition is particularly unique, there is something about these photos that I am drawn to.  For the past 30+ years, Nixon has photographed his wife and her three sisters every year.  They are always photographed together in the same order, usually in an outdoor setting.  But although they can be considered merely family portraits, they also seem to get beyond that distinction or limitation; both as a group and individually, they feel more like "documentary" portraits (whatever that means :).  Perhaps it is that the images suggest a particular relationship between the photographer and the subjects that is different from what we see in the typical family snapshot.  The women are rarely smiling and often confront the camera with a direct gaze.

What I find inspiring about these works is that they are evidence that a photographer can take something very ordinary and accessible (his/her family) and produce compelling images that transcend these limitations and speak to a broad audience.

You can see more images from the series here.