I'd like to share something personal with you. This week we lost a close family member, of my husbands, to a long battle with cancer. Uncle James was such a character and I'm thankful that I've had the honor and privilege to get to know him over the past 6 1/2 years. Uncle James reminded me a lot of my dad, who also had such a spirit about him. My dad passed away in March 2008 from a battle with cancer. And coincidentally, my dad's name was James too! Maybe it's something with the name or maybe it was just my luck to have known such wonderful characters in this life.
This past summer we saw Uncle James for the last time, up with his family at the lake in NY. I will always have fond memories of driving the winding roads around the mountain to get to their house. I look forward to continuing to visit Aunt Susan (and their children) for years to come. One thing that struck me this week when I attended the wake, was that you never know the impact a photo can make. While I create photos and hope that they are treasured for years, I began to fully understand the impact my photos can make on someone's family.
Everyone knows in my family that I am never without one of my cameras. They usually complain the whole time that I am taking photos of them too! I like to take photos a lot and I've noticed the days I choose not to take my camera, everyone asks "Hey, where's your camera Kate?". So, I've come to the conclusion to just always carry it. I'd rather have my family complain I'm taking too many photos, then missing a moment or hearing them ask why I don't have my camera!
While we were at the lake in July to visit, I brought my camera. We knew Uncle James wasn't doing the best, but you always have faith and hope that things will get better. I snapped off a few shots and then just enjoyed the day with everyone. I never knew that one of those photos would be so important. When Uncle James passed this past weekend, my mommy-in-law asked if I could send Aunt Susan the one photo everyone loved of James. I said that'd be no problem! My husband decided to save my aunt time and have it blown up and printed for the services for her. He was going to overnight it, but it wouldn't get there in time for the morning wake.
So, Chris took a 3+ hour drive up on Monday night to deliver it himself! I am sure Aunt Susan was happy to see his silly smiling face and he was happy to spend time with her and enjoy some tasty treats. Then he made the 3 hour drive home late that night. I knew my photo was going to be useful, but I hadn't realized how important it was to the family until we arrived at the wake on Wednesday. Uncle James' sister was filled with emotion about this image! I don't believe anyone had any photos of him past Christmas. Along with the larger image, they had tons of photos in beautiful collages. I was able to really get a full sense of who he was, how much he was loved and how full of a life he lived.
I feel the photo I took really captured his spirit and I feel like he is right there with me every time I look at it. I just was so overwhelmed this week that a photo I took meant so much to someone and would be how someone would be remembered. I love photography, but I was blown away at the response and I was truly and deeply honored to be able to offer something in this time of grief.
I was also honored that a photo I took of my dad was what my mom chose to use at his wake and services. It was me being me, bothering everyone at my sister's wedding for photos. I look back now and I am so thankful that I was pushy with my camera. I have so many images of all of the people I love to keep my memories flowing.
I just wanted to share how much I was impacted this week by photography. I really felt overwhelmed with emotions of sadness and joy for the lives I've been able to be a part of. I know my dad and Uncle James are smiling down at all of us and keeping watch. I feel like I just have a few more angels up there helping me along. The feeling of being blessed doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about my life right now. Without writing a further novel, I'd like to share the image of Uncle James and also of my dad. I loved them both, as I know many, many, many others did and do as well.
Always in my thoughts / photographer news
