The Eyes Into The Soul

March 01, 2017  •  2 Comments

On February 8th, I was working away at my computer when my cellular phone began pinging non-stop. Usually, it's from e-mails or push notifications so I didn't bother to check immediately. It was going crazy, so I logged in and to my dismay, I found out that my eldest 1st cousin passed away suddenly in Rome.

Being so far away from my family is the most heart wrenching emotion during times like these, for economy and my lack of funds prohibit me from leaving and attending  funerals. My mother immigrated and became an American citizen back in the 1960s, but my extended, family of aunts, uncles and cousins all live in England, Italy and Sicily. 

I was in Rome a few months ago and was able to visit with my cousin, Franco, and his kind and caring mother, my Zia Anna. We had a long conversation about his failing health and I was heartbroken that with the realization that he wouldn't be with us for very long. Even with that understanding, it was still a shock when I read the texts. Even though I am separated by 4000 plus miles, the modern technology and frequent flyer miles keeps me in touch with my extensive family.

For over 30 years I have been documenting the town my parents grew up in and I have thousands of images, but I also have taken photographs in Rome. Franco would not allow me to point a camera in his vicinity last year, and I'm very glad I didn't. I went back through my archives and found the most representative image I have ever made of him, which I'm sharing here.

His eyes, and his gaze reflect who he is perfectly. He inherited our great-grandfather's blue eyes, his spirit of adventure came from his father and his mischief...well that was all his own. I am honoring him in the only way I know how, by sharing the image I believe reflects his character and soul.

I am fortunate to have the skill of being able to capture and create images that reflect what I see, and even though my children run and hide when I bring my camera out, I am glad to have made the images, to record those moments and to share them. Once they are gone, they can never be recreated again, for they are time capsules to remember and to pay tribute.

My advice: Take photographs, make prints, make books and share them.

In Memory of Francesco

1951-2017

© Santa Fabio

No Reproduction Rights Granted.


Comments

Detroit People Photographer - Santa Fabio
Dal mio cuore, grazie Adamo.
Adamo Carmelo Lamponi(non-registered)
Carissima Santa,
hai avuto proprio un bel pensiero nei confronti di Franco che come sai è sempre stato una persona straordinariamente vicina alla famiglia nonostante le distanze e gli impegni di lavoro ci abbiamo sempre tenuti lontani.
La tua foto è il quadro di un artista che penetra nell'anima del nostro grande cugino è ne descrive perfettamente il suo grande cuore, la sua immensa generosità, il suo altruismo, il suo essere buono, la sua riservatezza.
La tua fotografia fa emergere inoltre la serietà di un professionista estremamente in gamba nel suo operato di Architetto, sempre dedito al lavoro e rispettoso degli impegni presi.
Grazie per la tua bellissima foto che contraddistingue e conferma il tuo altissimo profilo professionale e artistico
Adamo Carmelo Lamponi
No comments posted.
Loading...

Detroit People & Commercial Photographer

Subscribe
RSS
Archive
January February March April May June July August (1) September October (2) November December (2)
January (2) February (1) March (1) April (1) May June (1) July (1) August (2) September October November December
January (2) February March (1) April May (1) June (1) July August (1) September (2) October (1) November December
January February March April May June July August (1) September October November (1) December (1)
January February March April (1) May June July August September October November December
January February March (1) April May June July August September (1) October November December
January February March April May (1) June July (1) August September (1) October November (1) December
January (1) February March April May June (1) July August September (1) October November (1) December (1)
January February March (1) April (2) May June (2) July August (1) September October November December
January February March April May (1) June (1) July August September October November December
January February March April (1) May June (1) July August September (1) October November (1) December
January February (3) March (2) April (3) May June July (1) August September October (1) November December