This week’s themes at iHeartFaces is “Hands On” and the guest judge is Becky Earl.
When I first heard the theme “Hands On,” I thought of a cool, artsy shot I have of my oldest son. When I read theme’s description, however, I changed my mind:
Show off those teeny-tiny baby hands, chubby toddler hands, the soothing hands of a mama or the gnarled, wise hands of a grandfather.
That brought to mind this photo that I took of my almost 96-year-old great-aunt in March 2008. She’d led a long and healthy life and hadn’t seen a doctor for years up until the final few days of her life. After a brief stay in the hospital, she spent a day in hospice and then passed away quietly in the night; I was there.
We’d taken our kids to see her earlier that evening. She didn’t wake up, but the kids held her hands. I looked at their held hands and wished I had a camera. I had a new BlackBerry, and my son mentioned that the camera on it was supposed to be pretty good. She passed away 5 hours later.
My first DSLR arrived in the mail less than a week after this shot was taken. This is the straight-out-of-camera (camera phone, that is) shot.
This week, the camera phone photo just felt like the right choice.
{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }
wonderful picture…what a blessing that you were there for her!
.-= Elizabeth´s last blog ..I Heart Faces- "Hands on Fun" =-.
It made me cry a little.
What beautiful hands!
So excited for you and your new camera : )
.-= Life with Kaishon´s last blog ..It’s Official: We love her! =-.
Made me cry too. Absolutely beautiful picture.
Beautiful and touching….lovely photo, sometimes you just have to use what you have when the moment strikes. I’m glad you did.
<3 beautiful moment
.-= fidget´s last blog ..I’m blogging just to tell you I’m not blogging =-.
such an incredibly beautiful moment captured forever.
.-= monica (peapodsquadmom)´s last blog ..Here Comes the Sun =-.
Such a touching and beautiful moment you captured!
.-= Taylor´s last blog ..I Heart Faces – “Hand On” Fun =-.
such a beautiful photo and story
Glad that you caught that special moment. Very sweet photo.
.-= Austin-Lee´s last blog ..You Picked Me =-.
Literally brought tears to my eyes. And NOT just because I’m a cry-baby (although i am) — It’s BEAUTIFUL!
.-= Becca´s last blog ..Linky-Love =-.
What a beautiful photo. Thank you for sharing this personal moment.
.-= BE~Photography Blog´s last blog ..Hands on! =-.
Such a precious shot! Great job!
.-= Pics by Mic´s last blog ..iheartfaces Week 8 – “Hands-On Fun” Photo Challenge! =-.
What a great capture! Grandmother’s hands are so special!
OMG… I was literally brought to tears w/ your shot. AMAZING and alot of emotion in this one photo! Thanks for sharing!
.-= Jenn´s last blog ..Cell Phone Mosaic on a Sunday…. =-.
What a beautiful moment you captured! your story brought tears to my eyes….I was with my Dad when he passed away at home 6 years ago…..that shot says it all ?
.-= TidyMom´s last blog ..I ? Faces {Hands} =-.
Oh this one just makes me WEEP! Makes me miss my Grandma and wish that she could have met my other 2 children before she passed. This is a photo you will ALWAYS treasure!
.-= Dana-from chaos to Grace´s last blog ..Week 8=Hands on =-.
This photo has brought tears and long buried emotions out in me. It’s a small slice of humanity that we all experience, but rarely see the beauty in. I’m so happy that you were able to capture this moment, and chose to share it with all of us.
what a wonderful capture.
.-= domestic extraordinaire´s last blog ..Helping her catpure her bliss =-.
Breathtaking!!
i love this! now you’re making me cry, such a beautiful picture with such loving hands. what a blessing!
.-= alice´s last blog ..Week #8, i ? faces "Hands-On-Fun" =-.
Absolutely priceless.
.-= Mama Zen´s last blog ..Banquet "Thanks A Million" =-.
Beautiful capture of a heart-breaking moment.
what a precious shot. so meaningful.
.-= Marsha´s last blog ..I ordered Kimchi online =-.
What a beautiful picture! It doesn’t matter what you took it with, though even the quality is pretty good! The message it gives, speaks volumes! LOVE IT! Thank you for sharing!
.-= Maryvel´s last blog ..Fixt-It-Friday! =-.
A photo to cherish!
Beautiful moment you captured. Thank you for sharing the image, and the story behind it.
What amazing emotion your photo evokes…I’m all teary eyed and full of goose bumps. Thank you for sharing your beautiful story.
.-= Tezzie´s last blog .."I Heart Hands" – Photo Challenge =-.
I have tears in my eyes.
(Sitting at my desk in fron of a class of ninth graders.)
what a tender moment. Aren’t camera phones awesome to have!
.-= punk rock mom´s last blog ..iheartfaces- hands-on fun =-.
This is perfectly poignant!
Beautiful!!!
This is a wonderful shot. I love it.
.-= hulagirl´s last blog ..I Heart Faces Photo Challenge-"Hands On Fun" =-.
What a priceless photo! How special that you and your children were there with her.
.-= Jane´s last blog ..I Heart Faces — “Hands-On Fun” =-.
This shot made me tear up. Beautiful moment.
.-= Jessie´s last blog ..I heart faces – Fun With Beads =-.
Very cool! So glad y’all remembered the camera phone. What a wonderful way to remember.
.-= Rachel´s last blog ..iHeartFa…Hands! =-.
Very sweet indeed – it’s moments like these not too long ago we would have missed without the camera phone and for that I am grateful too. Thank you for sharing such a dear piece of your family history with the i heart faces community :)
~Tammie
Oh. My. Goodness.
A picture that needs no words.
BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
This is truly awesome!
great capture! i love the contrast and story of this image.
Wow! what a lovely story, what a wonderful photo to have as a memory.
.-= April W´s last blog ..I heart faces “Hands On Fun” =-.
This is beautiful!
Beauty to behold! Thanks for sharing!
Reminds me so much of this post I did on my little bug and a family friend…
http://irwinadventures.blogspot.com/2009/08/shes-91-and-shes-just-almost-1.html
.-= Krystal´s last blog ..A Word for the Mamas… =-.
That is a wonderful picture…what a great deed it was that you were there for her!
.-= Jane´s last blog ..High Temperature curtains =-.
That is what it means whenever they say a picture speaks a thousand words. I also have a photography blog I’d love for you to visit and follow. :)
what a beautiful pics. so glad you were there. so glad you captured that.