DECEMBER 7 • 2023 | 67

time, “It’s something that’s very 
personal to me,
” she continues, 
“and I use it as a tool in my own 
personal life for self-expression 
and photographing my family.
”
When Buckfire was 
diagnosed with stage four 
ovarian cancer, Elconin was 
encouraged by her mentor, 
fellow photographer Nancy 
Borowick, to start documenting 
her family’s life.
Elconin took photos of 
her grandmother, mother, 
father and more as her family 
eventually grew used to having a 
camera around.
“I photographed a lot of 
family gatherings and different 
things that are symbolic in 
what we do as secular Jews in 
our practices,
” the Temple Shir 
Shalom member explains. 
“I come from a family of 
survivors, and now more than 
ever, telling stories about Jewish 
identity is something that’s 
really important to me.
”

A FULL-CIRCLE 
EXPERIENCE
Her family’s close bond is 
one of several layers included 
in “Chronicles of Being: A 
Selection of Images,
” in addition 
to self-portraits and Elconin’s 
dedication to documenting 
news.
Much of the news photos 
fall into the realms of politics 
and climate, two areas of news 
Elconin covers most. 
“This imagery is a testament 
to my commitment as a 
documentary photographer 
to bear witness to the broader 
shifts in our world and critical 
issues of our time,
” she says.
Watching other MSU 
students, some of whom are 

also studying journalism or 
photojournalism, interacting 
with her work is deeply 
emotional and inspiring to 
Elconin.
“I was here as a freshman, 
now I’m back eight years later,
” 
she says. “I would have never 
imagined what my life would 
have been like now, or what I 
would have been able to achieve 
in my work.
”
Now, Elconin plans to 

continue working on her family 
history project and creating 
an outline for a budget to help 
bring the project to full fruition.
“I think you have to pursue 
the things you really care about,
” 
she says. “Since my grandma 
passed, [the project] is a way 
for me to try and feel more 
connected to her.
”
Elconin finds comfort in her 
grandmother’s immense pride 
for her and her work. Just one 

month before passing away, 
Buckfire was “ranting and 
raving, even when she wasn’t 
feeling well,
” about a front-page 
photo Elconin shot for the 
Washington Post.
“She was always very proud,
” 
Elconin says. “She’s definitely 
my biggest motivator.
” 

Visit https://emilyiriselconin.com to 

see Elconin’s portfolio. 

continued on page XX

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EMILY ELCONIN

RIGHT, TOP TO BOTTOM: Emily 
Elconin. Elconin’s grandmother 
Vicky Buckfire, a photograph in 
the current exhibit.
FACING PAGE: A photograph in 
“Chronicles of Being: A Selection 
of Images,” 

