Monday, June 29, 2009

A thousand words


It doesn't happen that often, but sometimes, a newspaper photographer will find himself or herself in precisely the right spot and exactly the right time to capture an image that so perfectly tells a story that no words are even necessary.

So it was on Saturday morning, when Celeste Van Kirk took this photo (front page June 28) at the American Legion post in Washington. Here, Army Reserve Pfc. Donald Stark is hugged by his wife, Angela, before leaving for Fort Dix, N.J., en route to Iraq with the 619th Transportation Company.

We try to be strong, to be brave, not to give in to our emotions, but there is that moment when we can no longer hold back our feelings, when the dam breaks, and that is the moment we see in Angela's face. Can you look at this picture and not get choked up?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Celeste finds "herself in precisely the right spot and exactly the right time" more often than not.

Anonymous said...

Isn't it amazing that the harder someone works - the luckier they are! Keep up the great work Celeste. Jude Jones