I posted the photo of Cassandra Conety this morning, and I got a slew of messages – the interesting and non-neurotic side of Facebook – saying my photo reminded people of Vermeer’s Iconic, “The Girl With A Pearl Earring,” now hanging at the Frick Museum in New York City, the centerpiece of the show.

Art historians believe the girl in the photo was Vermeer’s daughter Maria, who posed for a number of his paintings.

I am humbled to be compared in any way to Vermeer, and I am sure the comparison is hyperbolic and not literal, but I do see a resemblance between Cassandra and Maria. The light and look is the same, but also the demeanor, Cassandra is a wonderful portrait subject to me because of the character in her face.

i asked Maria, an artist to come in and look at these two images and she said it is the angle of light, the position of the head, but more than that, both images evoke the same feeling, the same atmosphere.

People see a wholesomeness and innocence in the photographs, so do I. Cassandra carries herself with quiet and dignity, as I imagine Vermeer’s Maria does. Vermeer captured the subjects eyes in a way I did not, and they are an important part of the painting, as is the background.

This comparison of my Maria’s makes sense to me, and inspires me to take more portraits of Cassandra while she is working here. This is why I love portraiture, the camera always sees more than I do.

When she came into the house and accepted this work, I said, “you know this means I will be taking your picture,” and she rolled her eyes and nodded, “yes, she said I figured that.”

If people are going to compare my photos to Vermeer, then I am inspired. I think Cassandra could be a wonderful portrait subject.