I used the classic portrait focal length – approximately 105mm – to make this naturally candid portrait of a Belgian mother and daughter. I wanted the image to reflect an intimate, thoughtful moment in time, with each of the subjects appearing relaxed and unaware of the camera. The daughter is softly illuminated by window light, while the mother’s profile is in shadow. We were luncheon guests of this Belgian family, and I made this image while sharing a conversation with them and several other guests. The mother answers a question, while her daughter, who is still learning English, is patiently trying to absorb the answer. Working from about 10 feet away, the 105mm focal length makes it seem as if I was five feet away. But I was not in their face, and they were able to concentrate on the conversation instead of reacting to the camera. Without a telephoto lens, it would have been very difficult to make this natural an image.