Recapture » National Projects

Good Friday Storms

Chris Torres — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:50:13 +0000

For some of you, Good Friday was a day like any other week day. Alarm shouts for your attention and you roll out of bed with a hairdo that needs reckoning. The gather up your little ones and prep them for school or for the care takers while you journey to work. You went to work to wrap things up in preparation for the weekend. Left work, and picked up the kids from daycare or parents taking care of them for the day. Home, then set the little ones to bed. Then, to finally have some quiet moments with your spouse before bed. Lather, rinse, repeat; as the cycle goes, day in and day out.

Then something disturbing happens. Something that breaks that cycle. Last Friday, the southeast was riddled with storms that brought along with it multiple tornados that destroyed many homes and lives. Tornados were confirmed, touched down in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and other parts of the southeast. You can read more about the tornados in Tennessee here or tornados in Georgia here. Our heart, sincerely, goes out to each and everyone that was affected by the devastation and loss.

Family Trees

Chris Torres — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:07:24 +0000

One of the jewels of the trip was found in an unlikely place. I am going to take you back to our friend Thuy’s home in San Leon, Texas. While there Jeff Shinabarger, and I had the pleasure of interviewing Thuy and her experience of Hurricane Ike. One part of the interview that keeps playing over in my mind is what encourages her family to staying in San Leon.

Click here to view the embedded video.

As you can see these trees that were planted in their front yard years ago are pretty important. When Thuy first said family tree, I thought she was referring to her family lineage. Then she nodded and right away I realized she was referring to the tall, strong trees in her front yard. These trees have endured a lot over the years. They have weathered storm after storm, and basked in the light and warmth of the sun. In a way, they are truly like family. In our lives, even after the storms blow over us, may it be trouble and hardships, and we may have our possession destroyed by disasters, ultimately we are left with family. They carry us through the hard times and laugh with us through the fun.

Remnants of a Family’s Dwelling

Chris Torres — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:27:41 +0000

A family in North Georgia had their home destroyed by fire. We were honored to be there on Wednesday to capture the remains. The grief that this family is experiencing is beyond words. We are using our gifts, as photographers, to eventually give them something to cope in the future. We are hoping to spread news of their need and will later document them once they are settled. Once this is done we will give them prints to adorn their bare walls and an album to take residence on their coffee table or book shelf. We know we cannot replace what was lost but we do know that we can help them with the grieving process in giving closure and renewing their hearts. Please contact us if you wish to donate to this ten person family.