Lead by the Lens

Do you find that your lens has a mind of its own sometimes?  that you are lead to capture certain moments beyond your control? that somehow you end up at just the right place, at just the right time and it has nothing to do with you?

I captured this image last summer shortly after I got my Nikon D80. It was about 1:00pm on a Sunday. And the congregation of eight assembled on the front porch of the church on my prompting.  After taking several shots of the two beautiful women on the left, the youngest (and most shy) member of the church popped into my view and threw his arm around Eula Kate. She was more than ninety years old at the time. Eula Kate had survived a heart attack and refused to be put in a nursing home. She loved living on her own and attended her small hometown church every Sunday. I think she enjoyed having her picture made that day despite the heat and blinding sun. Several months later, she left this world peacefully – seated in her chair at her church... on a Sunday.

Comments

[melody is slurping life]

There is so much being spoken in that photo. Fabulous image.

Eula Kate, I'd love to meet you in the beyond...what a life...what a departure.

[jodyangel]

Aww sweet story. Eula Kate sounds like a fabulously interesting person. In my job as a nurse, I've been so blessed to meet many awesome elderly folks. Now working in OB I meet the brand new ones!

Great post..you made my night =)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodyangel/2825668326/

[simply blogged / leaca's philosophy]

that is what i love about photography, it is so spiritual to me.

[Marcie]

Fantastic image!!! Love the expressions and the detail you've captured in their faces. A true tribute to Eula Kate!

And yes - sometimes my camera has a mind all its own:
http://bravo.unisonplatform.com/~marciesc/index.php?showimage=513

[jfrancis]

It's true
God made all equal,
fortunately
his love
finds a richer home
in willing hearts.

[ELK]

yes, especially looking at the sky:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sammymom/2807802937

[shelli]

Wow. Wonderful story.

[Stephanie]

This photo and your story give me goosebumps.

[abbey]

When I got this shot it was a total surprise... I was just holding my camera and pointing it around and clicking away while my kids played... I fell in love with the image though!!

http://www.photoblog.com/abbeyh13/

[renee @ FIMBY]

What a wonderful story. I love stories. And jfrancis - what a poem!

[spencercasa]

beautiful story. love it.

[kacey]

What a wonderful photo and story to go with it. Eula Kate, rest in peace. Yes, sometimes a camera does seem to have a mind of it's own, doesn't it? I think sometimes the universe connects with me and says "shoot the camera NOW."

[kristin]

incredible story and yes you were meant to be there, that day , to take that shot of her spirit here. she looks so happy.

[sweetsalty kate]

Oh, what wonderful serendipity, and a lovely tribute.

[Jodi Renshaw]

Wow. Thank you for that. Now, I wish I knew that lovely lady. Such a rich story you told of her ... brief but to the point.

[Marcia]

What a beautiful photo and story! Her smile is priceless.

[Cheryl Doran-Girard]

What a lovely post--her face is filled with the grace of a life well-lived. Thank you.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheryldoran-girard/206702541/

[Kate Baumert]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/drmagoddess/2814035557/

Wonderful story! Here's portrait of another fun older lady...

[Eren]

Amazing how the young'n is almost leaning on Eula Kate. You can see her strength in this photo so well. Wonderful tribute to her life and faith.

[Shawna]

This is what I strive for, to let myself follow my camera and my inner desire to shoot a photo when all my inhibitions tell me to just keep walking. Letting go and giving myself permission to capture anyone and anything (especially people I do not know well) is my biggest challenge!

[Michelle S]

The look on that boy's face - it goes straight to the heart. Lovely shot. Thank you for sharing the photo and the story.

[Lan]

http://whatiseeclicks.blogspot.com/2008/09/firstglimpse.html

[claudia]

amazing lines of wisdom earned through a long life lived on Eula Kate's face,
in contrast to the beautifully smooth face of youth.
Mine is just silly, I have no idea what I was thinking trying to hold a camera steady, while tubing down a fast hill, in the dark of night! It's still a keeper though.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/2171039414/in/set-72157604717999985?edited=1

[mrs. french]

both the story and the photo are amazing....touches the heart.

[Christina]

How beautiful! It is stories and people like this that our lens' gravitate towards.

[travelinma]

I just love this image...it makes me smile...the light is perfect. Thanks for sharing.

[r-dean]

wow. i'm blown away by that photo. simple great.

[Rachel]

it's such a gorgeous shot!

and I feel driven by my camera/lens all the time.

I also quite often feel that luck has a lot to do with it.