The last few hours (in images) (Los Angeles)

As children, we are taught to love and honour our parents because they are our educators.  We don’t know what that means, but we obey and follow.  As we get older, we learn the value of what true love is.  Unconditional in its essence.  Pure in its form. 

I learn so much about life through observing others.  I know nothing about being a parent or how a parent must feel but I have learnt so much about the inexhaustible love that one son has for this mother and father, through watching a life through his eyes.  As his mother prepares food in a kitchen that is paved from love and hums under her breath as she does so, his father watches from the side as his wife does what she has done over the many years with nothing but perfection.  And then I see Bobby, watching his parents, laughing with his parents, adoring his parents.  He’s watching their every moment trying to remember these last few hours, so that he can wrap up the memories in the frailest of tissue paper and place them in a corner of his heart that is always yearning for his “home.”  We were to embark on our plane back to Sydney from LA, and even though the Sun shone brightly piercing the clouds, I knew and felt the heaviness in the hearts of those in that room, on that day, at that time.  The smell of food being prepared with adoration permeated the house, and the aged wood adorning the floors breathed their sighs with muffled heartache.  Being present in the home of a love so strong only humbles the strongest of observers.  I know not how they muster the energy to strive through the separation, but they do.  It’s here that you see unconditional love.  It’s dwelling in the heartbeat of every second of separation, and builds in intensity with each passing day.

I hope these images convey a story of the last few hours of our trip, before we embarked on our journey back to Sydney.  We will be back next year, and we look forward to our Sunday morning Skype sessions with these two radiant souls, but nothing surpasses being in the presence of those who make you smile from the depths of your being x

Anisa + Jesse, 1 frame

This morning, I woke up.  I woke up, but my light felt dim.

I'm at home, nurturing my dimly lit bulb, in the hope that tomorrow my light will shine a little brighter.
Whilst laying on this sofa, I've been working through a day we spent with Anisa, Ryan and their two orbs of light; Zane and Jesse.  I'll be sharing the rest of the images with you in the next day, but whilst I lay my head down to rest I wanted to share with you one frame of a connection that only a mother and child can share.

Hatami Happy Time

A couple of months ago, Jesse graced the lives of Anisa, Ryan and Zane, and brought a greater happiness to all of those around him.  During these past couple months, Bobby and I have had such pleasure being around the Hatami's and their growing family and being amazed by the grace by which they are raising their children in this world.  We wanted to give them a gift that they would hopefully be able to cherish for many more years to come, as their two sons grow older and wiser, and shed the skins of their childhood.  Memories and images help keep those special moments alive.
There are many images to come, but I just wanted to share one of my favourite images from our time with them all today.  We were capturing a moment between Anisa, Ryan and Jesse when Zane came running up to us all with a little gift of bark for all to keep, and place within our pockets to preserve.
Such a fun day!

The Willow Tree

Our last night with Kalinz and Luke, and my last chance to see little Willow for several months.  The next time we see her, she's going to have changed so much.  Preserving moments laced with laughter.  Love her so much.