These are the words of a song posted regarding the death of a dear friend last night. I had formulated carefully chosen words for this post, but after a day of heart-breaking reflection, I am empty. I created this blog earlier this year as an aide in my journey of finding the true meaning of my photography and how to best apply it to my life. With this photo and this loss, I have found it. I took this photo in April of 2010 at a Navy Dining Out in Annapolis, MD. It was not a portrait session with my 'big camera', but simply a candid moment with my point and shoot. It captures a moment of love, joy and celebration. It captures a moment that will sadly never be duplicated. Last night, my friend Dawn lost her battle with cancer. She leaves behind a loving husband and young twins. This picture can't tell you how wonderful a person she was, how the biggest priorities in her life were her husband and kids, how she made her friends her family, how nutrition and exercise were important to her, how much she loved cooking and the hours she spent happily in the kitchen, how she was the best hostess you could ever be served by, or how her outlook was always logical and heart-felt. This picture many not say all those things to you. But to me, I see this moment and I see the bigger picture. I see a friend in the highlight of her life. I see a friend that has touched me to the soul. I see a friend that will be forever missed. Without this photo, I would only have this vision in my mind. With this photo, her smile (and that of her husband) will be forever branded on my heart. Dawn: We love and miss you. Gregg, Addie and Gehrig: We are here for you in any way we possibly can be. You will always be family to us.
