Blog

My favorite photo

castle-blog

I took a trip to Ireland with my mom back in 2001. She had been diagnosed with lung cancer and we both knew this would be our last vacation together, so I was going to do everything in my control to make the trip perfect. We knew it would be a tough trip due to my mom’s health; she was in a wheelchair and limited as to where she could go. Not only was this vacation physically challenging but it would be emotionally exhausting as well.

A couple days into the trip we stayed at the Dromoland Castle. It was breathtaking! I wanted to walk the grounds and photograph everything.  My mom and I ‘rolled’ along for about an hour before she became cold and wanted to go inside. I set her up at a window table in the turret with a hot cup of tea and I continued my photo excursion. I came across a small lake near the castle.  I walked around the lake until I found the perfect spot with the castle in the background.  It was also a perfect view of the window I left my mom drinking her cup of tea. As I kneeled down to get the angle I wanted with the perfect camera settings, a beautiful swan swam right into my view. I took the picture.  He came out of nowhere and then he disappeared. I walked away after taking only one shot, I knew there was no way I could change it or make it any better. I have this print hanging in my home and in my studio. It reminds meto slow down and breath. Although you cannot actually see my mom in the window, I know she is there.

castle-blog