GC, as a photographer, I need your opinion and help!
 

I have my ideas for this but I need you guys to help me refine it. When you hear the phrase Only the Strong Survive, what comes to mind IN RELATION TO A WOMAN?

(btw, I will give due credit!)

Cancer.

Jessica, I see what you're saying, (and thank you) but I guess I should have said, what comes to your mind visually and physically? I'm trying to visually illustrate this phrase.

The wife or mother of a slain member of the Military at their funeral when they are handed the folded American flag.

CAn't think of specific images for the below:

Yeardley Love's mom and sister (UVA lacrosse player who was murdered over the weekend)

The mother of any son/daughter taken too young be it from illness, accident, violence or suicide.

http://images.whereilive.com.au/imag...3b_resized.JPG

Something loosely like this but leaning more on the "strong and survive" notion as balanced with notions of femininity.

I DEFINITELY don't see anything sad or tear jerker.

The Rosie the Riveter poster from WWII, where she is flexing her arm, with the caption, "Yes We Can", or something like that.

I thought of a breast cancer walk, and specifically an image of a woman who had had a mastectomy.

I initially thought of this too, but I also urge caution and sensitivity. There are plenty of VERY strong women who have faced cancer but who sadly were not able to beat the disease. I know you would never want to insinuate that those who fell to the disease were not strong. The term "only" is what makes me a tad uneasy.

(my husband is an oncologist and I have just heard too many heartbreaking stories. Some types of cancers are just so bad it just doesn't matter how strong one fights.. the cancer always wins. Sad.)

NP- great question and I really like the military suggestion. I will try to think of others. Again the "only" makes this hard for me!

I see a woman who has clearly gone through a trial in her life but has come through victorious. Like a single mother who put all 5 of her children through college on her own, or a woman who had a baby while in medical school and was able to graduate ... something like that.

I hope this helps and good luck :)

A woman busting out of chains.

I agree with this.

A woman sweating like a hog while jogging on a treadmill to the Jerry Butler song. (I think this was a Weight Watchers or some weight-loss food commercial a few years ago.)

a solo :D

a woman sitting quietly while reflecting over her life and the trials she's faced.

A grandmotherly woman, white-haired, wrinkled, but beautiful and vibrant, with a twinkle in her eye. (my grannie :)) I am thinking a beauty shot type of image almost. Close up, nowhere to hide, where you see everything.

This will sound completely inappropriate, but I love old people. I love that you can look at them and know that if they have lived this long, they have seen and been through some things. I love old people who still have a spring in their step and a zest for living. That, to me, is strength and survival. :)

Good luck.

To take a different route--and be quite a bit shallower--one might see a woman faced with a cloud of tweezers, flat irons/furling irons, corsets (or Spanx), blow dryers, eyelash curlers, etc..., or one woman facing a group of intimidating-looking women.

I also think of female soldiers.

ETA: I love Little32's idea.