HANDS OF LOVE AND LIFE

This project began with a single photograph made with my cell phone. My brother Jeff, an amazing man, loved by people all over the world, whose body was slowly conceding to the cancer that took him from us far to soon, was laying in his hospice bed my hand in his.

Jeff and I didn’t always get along. In fact the first 16 or so years of my life I was under the impression that he and I would never get along, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Jeff was a service member of the United States Coast Guard and lived with his wife Laura in San Diego, California. Jeff became the Fleet Maintenance Supervisor for Crest Beverage in San Diego and over the years we didn’t see much of each other. But something happened, sadly I don’t even know when, he and I started talking over the phone and over AOL Instant Messenger and eventually text. He and I grew close and he willingly shared so much with me. Teaching me how to repair or upgrade parts on my old Ford Ranger and when I started my own graphic design and sign business he got me the contract at Crest to install graphics on their delivery trucks.

We also traveled together and again, I learned so much from him. I loved talking about cooking with him and discussing new tech in computers and photography etc. But the last weeks of his life were very difficult and I have memories that will only remain in my head as it became continually difficult for him to live. This photograph was made shortly before he passed away and to me it speaks volumes. In the image you see the weathering of my brothers skin from years and miles in the sun on boats and racing vehicles in the desert. You see imperfections in our fingernails and freckles. Knowing Jeff you may have seen him bite his fingernails and me you see that personal stress ripples and cracks my fingernails. You see the scar on my wrist from a surgery where a plate was installed on a broken bone on my wrist. We are not perfect, and we shared in each others imperfection, experiences and learning. So this is photograph number 1 in my personal project to photograph hands and the stories that go along with those hands. I hope you enjoy this journey and check back from time to time.