Life Through My Lens

The word trickled through my core group of girlfriends, my tribe, that there was a diagnosis of breast cancer.  We have all been friends since high school, some of us even longer, and the majority of us are still here in California while our sweet friend who had just been diagnosed lives out of state. When something like this happens, the first people you want and need is your family. Like most of us, her family is here in California as well.  We knew that even though she was trying to be brave, she needed them. The decision to fly her in to be with her family was a simple one, so we put her on a plane and brought her home.

After we picked her up at the airport, we took her to lunch where we talked about high school and old crushes and who was still married and who had divorced.  And we laughed.  A lot.  Then finally, in a quiet and safe moment, her eyes filled with tears.  Letting go of the false bravado, she let all of her fears come to the surface and spill over while us, her tribe, did what we do best: we surrounded her with all the love, faith and hope we could give her.  It was at that moment that I picked up my camera and took this photo. 

I've taken hundreds of those happy photos we all take of babies and families and people.  I'm a photographer.  It's what I do.  But life is so much more than that, and that's what I tend to photograph: life in all it's glorious, raw beauty.  It's also what I tend to do when I can't really put what I'm feeling into words so I let my camera do the speaking for me.  When my grandma was at the end of her days, I documented it with my camera.  When my son was critically ill and there was nothing I could do but wait and hope and pray, my camera was my saving grace.  So while this photo isn't your basic posed and happy photo, the love in that photo is undeniable and that, my friends, is everything.  It's what life is all about.

Share with us today your photos depicting life. Tell us a story. We're listening.

Comments

[Marcie]

What a beautiful image capturing the supportive love!

[annie]

What a beautiful post and beautiful photograph, Chris.

[Eleonora]

This post is beautiful and moving!
All that I can do is hope your friend will make it through.

[Kristina]

Big hugs to your friend and to you all for helping her make it through this tough time. This is a beautiful and moving photograph.

[Corinna]

Chris, this post and your photo moves me. Best of luck to your friend and keep doing what you do so well.

[~Kristina]

Now that's exactly what friends and family are for.

[melody]

Much love and hope for your precious friend

[Alexandra]

Best wishes and luck to your friend and your tribe at this time. Beautiful photograph to capture the support she must be feeling.

[kelly]

Such raw emotion. It's absolutely beautiful.

[carolann]

Your story and captured moment was beautiful to read & see; thank you for sharing.

[Sue McB]

I wish I had had such a bunch of loving friends when I had that diagnosis. I hope your friend does as well as I did with her treatment, your friendship will make her strong.

[Kristin Zecchinelli]

this is so beautiful Chris it brings tears to my eyes.. so much love.

[Helene]

This is a beautiful tribute to the friendship and love among your friends. I've been reading Dorothea Lange's bio and her directive to her students at one point was 'shoot a photo of where you live.' It's not your house, or cothes, or workplace...it's a photo like this. Right now, this moment, this is where you live. Prayers and good thoughts go to your friend...she is blessed to have you!

[Kathy perez]

I feel so blessed to be ales angels that stillcan give love and laughter in the same setting...tears may flow but they are caught by a friend.

[DebC]

Your tribe is a blessed one, to have each other.

[ELK]

this is so moving ..beautiful gift !

recently said goodbye to a very special friend ... a life so well lived ~

http://www.redorgray.com/2012/02/day-after.html

[Lisa]

That brought tears to my eyes. Nothing is as precious as family and dear friends. Your photo is beautiful. My prayers tonight will include your friend and your tribe.