Continued from Snapshot of a Tragedy: Page One

I found myself uncharacteristically nervous as she pulled up to the orchard where the pictures were taken. She was vibrant, lovely, and kind. She was all of the things that I had hoped she would be from reading her blog, but feared that she was not, because it is hard to be that good, that charming, that beautiful.

There was no need for me to be nervous -- we immediately felt a warm bond between us. Her children were shy yet smiley, just as I suspected they'd be. Christian, her husband, was also such a warm, strong soul. He kept reminding me to take a picture of Stephanie alone, for him. Oh, the romance in their relationship!  

Our session went by fast -- too fast. Stephanie and I hugged goodbye, and she was gone. I knew without a doubt that my camera had captured some amazing images. Much to the family's delight, a deer visited the orchard during their session and grazed on grass for the duration. It was all so idyllic -- a perfect setting for a perfectly wonderful family.

Then, the accident. Suddenly the pictures meant so much more to me. They now represented the fleeting nature of life. The precarious balance of which we are so unaware. The shutter snaps -- and life is never the same.

But, as I look at them now, and as I read of Stephanie and Christian's resilience in the face of such a daunting tragedy, these photos once more represent something else. They represent Stephanie and Christian's permanence. Stephanie's sister speaks of the sheer strength of their spirits and the uplifting power of prayer and community support. To me, that is what these pictures represent. Just as the images from that July afternoon did, Stephanie has affected me in an unchangeable way.

To me, photography is catching an ephemeral moment and making it permanent. That is what I love about it. The shutter catches something as passing as a grin and etches it in time. Just like Stephanie's influence on countless other mothers, a photo ... these photos ... are forever.

Long live Christian and Stephanie.

For updates on Stephanie's progress, click here. To donate, send contributions to the Christian & Stephanie Nielson Rehab Fund, P.O. Box 8850, Mesa, AZ 85214.

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