When I posted last night I was about to go to a friend's 40th birthday. About an hour before I was to leave I was told one of our swim club family members had died. It's not been confirmed but the rumour is that this sweet 16 year old boy, who my daughter swam with for upwards of 8 seasons, had taken his own life. Needless to say we are all in shock and very upset. Kennedy cried for hours and my son, after finally giving into his tears, said the news made him feel like he was going to throw up. Neither have ever had someone this close die before. We managed a soccer game today but otherwise it's been quiet and rather sad here. On the positive side, the sun decided to shine so I went to the beach to think. Of course I brought my camera.
What an amazing shot just love the focus, really sets a contemplative mood, and so sorry to hear the sad news. Your kids are lucky to have you help them during this time.
I am so sorry your family and the swimming families are going through this. So sad when this happens. How did you concentrate to take this pic? I did the expand/zoom in thing on my Mac and wow! The focused ground and the soft focused back ground is amazing! Wow.
@espyetta I just set the camera on a low rock and set the focus on auto. I used my remote trigger. Pure luck that it turned out the way I had envisioned.
Great shot, especially with the pop of red. So sorry to hear about the boy. My youngest son has lost 22 people near his age, so he has learned to appreciate his friends. It's always so sad when a young person commits suicide.
Shocking, sad news. So hard to understand and hard to believe. Beautiful shot, and perfect title. The word contemplation popped into my head before I even saw your title.
So sad. We have had a family member take their own life It is so tragic when they feel there is no way out. Your picture is fantastic as it really tells a story.
Fabulous shot. Just love that perspective and that wonderful pop of red.
Such a great loss and such a difficult thing for those that are left behind to try and understand/ cope with.
visually, I see the camera so low and I'm in awe of the dof and composition, plus colors, and then I read the sad, sad news and I'm so sorry. I'm in tears just reading it. And I know it is tough on the kids because nothing ever makes sense. Big hugs to you and your family and the poor boy's family. :(
Awesome shot, but such a sad thing to have happened. It must be so hard for you all to come to terms with especially your children, my thoughts are with you and the family of the poor boy.
@kwind No group accident, except maybe 2 at a time. This was over about a 6 year period. He was a freshman in college and maybe didn't appreciate his friends, as new freshmen often don't. He was sitting with long time friends and they started counting who had died. Now, not all were friends, but they were all within a year or two of his class. He has lost several to illnesses. Even his hockey coach lost an older son when he was coaching our team (accident). All so sad. He and 12 friends have formed what they call "The Foundation"...12 friends to support each other through life and to meet annually.
@kwind he even lost three of his main mentors in college (after graduation). All older men--45 to 75. Those were tough losses for him. Life teaches some tough lessons.
So sorry to hear your sad news. Always worse when someone so young passes away. My daughter died almost 2 years ago now and I still have good days and bad days. Luckily I live by the beach too and it is an excellent place to walk and think. Very soothing. Take care.
my heart goes out to you. Youth suicide is just such a troublesome thing. NZ has really bad stats in this - I know you will wrap you kids in love and support and that will help them through...
Lovely POV and shallow DOF, but it pales in comparison to your news today. If true, such a tragedy. Sending healing thoughts off to your kids and to your family.
Talk about putting things in perspective. We've had a miserable day of fire in our walls and floor with three visits from the fire department and a total mess. I'd been feeling sorry for us, until I read your post. What a very sad and helpless feeling situation. My heart goes out to the young person's family and friends.
Gosh, don't know where to begin! We lost our youngest son in a freak accident and there is nothing worse than the loss of a child. There is a hole that can never be filled and you are never the same again...ever. You learn with time to cope. My heart goes out to that family who lost their son and to all those he left behind, for I KNOW it's those that are left behind that suffer the most. Hugs to you and your children. The photo says so much!! FAV!
Beautiful poignant shot especially when couple with such tragic news :'( my heart goes out to the family and you and your kids. So many unanswered questions. Even four years later my kids have bad moments over their dads suicide....the whys will never be answered :'(
I am so sorry to hear of the tragic news. My heart goes out to his family and friends.
Your pic is stunning - the colour, the pov and dof. Great emotion to it.
So sorry to hear of this poor boy.......your two must be really reeling from the shock...when it's someone they can relate to so closely its felt very deeply. So sad for the family especially in the circumstances, they must be asking so many questions & wondering if they could have done things different.
Lovely pensive photo.
I think the statistics are that teen suicides is one of the major causes of teen deaths---right up there with car accidents. To be so young you can't believe that things will change and get better must be horrid.
I am so sorry to read the horrible news. There's no easy way to cope with this. I was with a friend on a course (car share where I was driving) when she was called home. Her youngest son had been found hanging. It was awful. What made it worse was that she knew something was wrong but hadn't been able to access help. We as a family are so lucky beacause when my beloved grandson had a breakdown it was very public and when he ran the police were alerted quickly. When they found him he started on the journey with his mental health workers that has given us back a lovely young man. Initially they thought he was bipolar but ultimately he was suffering from PTSD which was caused by being attacked and kept prisoner aged 15. So many youngsters don't get the help they need if the problem is mental health, at least here in the UK they don't. It's a real Cinderella service so Ben's public breakdown was the best thing that ever happened to him.
Very nice capture reflecting the sad moment your kids were going through. Not easy to loose a friend at that age. A friend of mine from childhood took her life last week, and it has shocked me very deeply, so I can understand what they are going through. Very sad.
A stunning, poignant image. So sorry about the senseless loss of the kid and friend of your children. That is heartbreaking. Fav. Prayers for your kids as they mourn and for the boy's family!!
I am so sorry to hear about the death of this young man. Your image is a perfect reflection of the deep contemplation you all experienced. My heart goes out to everyone who knew him.
Oh...that's so sad....The picture says it all...this sad event reminds us how important it is to talk with our teenagers... Courage to Kennedy and Gage...
So sorry to read this sad story. Out of experience I know little you can help or do about this. My prays and thoughts are with him and all of you.
Great image to go with it.
@anazad511 I'm sorry for your loss, Ana. It's just so hard to understand.
@cashew So sorry about your son, Kathy. Parents should not outlive their children. I can't imagine your pain. Hugs!
@onewing I'm so sorry you lost your daughter. The pain must be unbearable at times. Hugs to you!
@fayefaye I'm sorry you lost a family member this way. I had a cousin and an uncle who ended their own lives. It's just so hard to wrap your head around.
An instant fav as soon as I saw this. The focus is extraordinary! It was only after clicking that fav button that I read through your commentary :o( How incredibly sad for this to have happened xx
I read this yesterday and I guess I didn't comment. So sorry to hear your sad news. I hope your children hold up through this time and we will say prayers for the child's family.
I am so sad for you all and of course the family of the poor boy who couldn't find another way. Sending you lots of love and a virtual hug and please tell Kennedy and Gabe that I am thinking of them at this time. xxx
Kim we are so sorry to hear this tragic news. Sadly this is something we can relate to as three years ago my niece had a classmate of her commit suicide on the night before their class celebrated their Grade Nine Grade. Our prayers will be with everyone affected by this
So sad to read your tragic news! My heart goes out to to and your children who need a special hug today. What a sad waste of a young life. The poor parents and family must be in despair! Your photo is wonderful. Such a thoughtful shot. Sending you lots of positive vibes to you and your children!
Firstly I am sorry for your sad news and the loss of your children's friend. It is especially tragic that a person is so low that they take their own life. My husband lost his step-brother last week and he is devastated so I know how you are feeling at this sad time. Your photo certainly conveys your sadness Kim.
I´m so sorry for the loss and it´s always sad when young people take their own life. This pic says it all, even without the words it carries such powerful message. Fav
Your phot so beautiful and perfectly reflects the mood. It always leaves me with heavy heart when I hear a young person has died and even more so when it was suicide. I am sorry for your loss.
Stunning shot but such a sad story. I have lost quite a few very young, very close people over the years, some to accidents, some to suicide, some to illnesses... It is incredibly tough and can only imagine what the family is going through but it is also a stark reminder that life is short and for the living. My thoughts are with you and your family x
I missed this post yesterday? So sorry to hear this very sad news. It is a tragedy when a young person takes his or her own life. I can't imagine doing this and leaving my family behind to pay the consequences.
So sad when such a young person decides to leave us by their own hand. I can't even imagine what a parent must go through when this happens.
Take care...
Such a fantastic image! And also such sad news. This is always such a terrible thing to happen. No one knows why or what to do or say...I have a friend who went through this years ago and I know that pain will never go away. Hugs to you all. This image is so reflective and appropriate.
Very powerful image, Kim, and so fitting for your post. I am so sorry to read about this tragedy. My heart goes out to this young man's family and friends. Truly heartbreaking....
So sorry to hear this news. From experience, I know that this is extremely hard on the family and friends left behind. Praying for his family and friends.
First, this is an amazing shot, and a FAV. I think it is such an incredible tragedy when someone takes their own life, especially for the loved ones left behind with so many unanswered questions, guilt, and loss. So incredibly sad.....and, I am not at all surprised that you went out with your camera and captured this amazing image. Photography has given us all such an outlet, such a way of documenting the way we see the world, our emotions and our feelings that I would say it is therapeutic.
Oh my gosh Kim, that is so terribly sad. I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family in dealing with this tragic news.
Oh dear - and a beautiful shot. My son has lost two friends (at 14 and 16) to sudden death & a cycling accident. It hits everybody hard - parents all feel desperate and the kids feel suddenly mortal as well as bereft. They support each other brilliantly though. Sorry you're having to go through this.
I am so sorry for your loss. Your image spoke to me before I even read your words. . . a true piece of art and successful expression of the turmoil. Thank you so much for sharing so openly with us. Fav
So sorry to hear this, such a devastating shock when someone so young contemplates taking their own life. I lost one of my close friends same age as me (16) a few years ago and it hurts to this day. I'll never know why and that's what is so tough on the loved ones left behind. My condolences to you all, take care.
November 16th, 2014
Leave a Comment
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
Such a great loss and such a difficult thing for those that are left behind to try and understand/ cope with.
I really love this photo. I love the detail of the water and sand and the composition and dof! Fav!
Your photo is wonderful. The DOF is unbeatable. The focal point is great. I like the light in the water.
Your pic is stunning - the colour, the pov and dof. Great emotion to it.
Lovely pensive photo.
so sad to hear about this sad loss of life. terrible for the children too. sending positive thoughts your way
Great image to go with it.
this is a beautiful image Kim
hugs and warm wishes for you all to get through this
@anazad511 I'm sorry for your loss, Ana. It's just so hard to understand.
@cashew So sorry about your son, Kathy. Parents should not outlive their children. I can't imagine your pain. Hugs!
@onewing I'm so sorry you lost your daughter. The pain must be unbearable at times. Hugs to you!
@fayefaye I'm sorry you lost a family member this way. I had a cousin and an uncle who ended their own lives. It's just so hard to wrap your head around.
FAV
Take care...
Lets pray for his soul! F!