It’s rare to become enamored with entire photosets from an artist. It’s even more rare to fall in love with pictures for an ad. Last week, a set of pictures taken by photographer Tom Hussey made their way all over the internet. They were intended as advertisements for Alzheimer’s medication in 2010, but their poignant composition pulled at heartstrings all over the world. They are a sincere peek into the lives of strangers that truly tell a lifetime of stories in single images.

 

 

 

The photos in the set, entitled Reflections, are just that. They are different elderly people of all walks of life, looking into their reflection and seeing who they were in their prime. Who they see themselves as are smiling back at them, as though nothing has changed. There is nothing sad about the set, though there is a bittersweet longing in some of the photos. Some subjects seem pleased, as though reflecting on a life well-lived. Others seem to miss who they were when they were young. The set is a mix of emotions that create different stories for different people. It’s fascinating to see some subjects surrounded by family members, some alone, and the settings they’re placed in.

The set does so well in exhibiting different walks of life and inspiring empathy for these characters we have never met. It’s also rare to see a set by a photographer that purposefully seeks out different races to portray. The message may be that Alzheimer’s affects everyone, but out of context the set feels like so much more. Hussey is known for his lifestyle photography and working with advertisement. He brings a special, personal quality to his work. Reflections and a ton of other photo sets can be seen on his portfolio website here.

Check out the slideshow below for more fantastic pictures in this set!