I Heart Faces :: Photojournalism

The theme over at I Heart Faces this week is photojournalism. I'm not sure that this photo actually fits in that category, but I have been wanting to share it with my readers anyway.

Imagine a bustling hair salon on an early Friday morning filled with excited chatter by a bride and her bridesmaids. Among them is a mother who will be giving away her daughter, the last one, later on that day. I love the pure emotion behind this photo of my mom hugging my sister the morning of her wedding, right after she got her hair done. It brings tears to my eyes because I was there for this beautiful moment. And others may not have noticed or cared, but I could see all the love each shared for the other, from the day my sister was born to now, poured into this warm simple embrace. This is a moment that may not have been remembered if it were not for this photo. A fleeting moment, and yet an immeasurable treasure.

My view of photojournalism (and please note this is "my" definition -- what it means to me) is capturing a moment, unplanned, and most likely forgotten had it not been captured forever by freezing it in time with a photo. I also feel like it is a glimpse into someone else's world, a glimpse that others most likely miss as they're passing by, but if you take a minute and give more than a glance you'll see something life changing. This photo doesn't show my mom's or sister's face, and I truly wish I had one of the front and back, but it also leaves a little mystery for the viewer to write the rest of the story.

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Don't forget to go check out all the other amazing entries here.

10 comments:

Tricia said...

Oh gosh! You made me cry. Lovely - the writing and the photo!

Christina said...

Leah, thank you so much for your comment (I'm at fivewalkers). Your story is lovely as is the picture. What you said about photojournalism is pretty much the reason I take most of the pictures I take. I'm no professional, and many of my pictures would not do for most people. But for me, they are moments captured, to be remembered, cherished, laughed about, and loved. :)

LitosMena said...

It definitely tells a story. Even though we can not see their faces I can really imagine what their expressions were. Awesome picture!

Ashley Sisk said...

I love this moment - it reminds me of me and my mom on my wedding day. You don't even need faces to tell this story. Great work Leah!

MrsJeffsWife2B (as you know me :) said...

Beautiful!! I can almost feel the way your mom's arm feels around your sister's waist.

I've missed you all too, I am going to try to get over to the new board this week :)

Jodi said...

This is a stunning moment! What a wonderful wonderful picture!

Joni said...

Leah, thanks for capturing and saving this special moment - and recording your beautiful thoughts! Thanks to you, I remember this special time with Josie - it was the beginning of a beautiful day of wonderful memories and a blessed life for Josie and Ryan!

janineb said...

stunning! ITA with your perception of photojournalism. lovely interpretation.

L said...

thank you so much everyone!!! ;-)

josie mae said...

Leah thank you for being such a wonderful sister and capturing this moment of Mom and I! I cherish these moments and I'm so glad you could put it into words and a photo so beautifully. I love you!