this is goodbye
My dad is a retired Air Force Lt. Col., so whenever a military/aviation assignment flies into my lap, I get a little excited. To be honest, all of my aunts and uncles have some sort of military background, as well as both sets of grandparents. It’s in my blood, it’s on my mind, and I always treat it with respect. Some of my earliest memories is of my dad coming home in his green flight suit, and I remember always wanting to play with is eagle-painted helmet. In fact, it lead me to this career – albeit in a roundabout kind of way. My dad was a amateur photographer and he would make his own prints in our bathroom. I was brought up around darkroom equipment and photography, but I got more of a push to go into the Air Force. When I graduated high school we actually lived on the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, so there was a sense of destiny about what my life would be like. For some reason, I latched onto photography. One photo may dad took was basically my earliest favorite photo – and I don’t have a copy of it. I will be in Dallas sometime this summer and I plan to dig up a copy of it, but it was basically a fisheye shot that my dad made of himself at the helm of a jet. Couldn’t tell you anything more than the fact that when I thnk of my dad in a pilot context, that’s the image that pops into my brain. In a sense that my dad was Tom Cruise. Not 2009 Scientology-following, couch-jumping Tom Cruise, but more like circa 80′s Top Gun Tom Cruise. That’s the impression I always had of my dad.
In between a couple graduations today, I was sent over to a deployment ceremony for the Sentinel Detachment 3rd Battalion 265th Air Defense Artillery OEF at the Sarasota National Guard Armory in Sarasota. About 24 guardsmen are set to head out this weekend for Afghanistan for radar work and today their families had to say goodbye to their Tom Cruise’s.
I chose to stay back today with a 70-200mm, not because I felt like I couldn’t get in there, but for me I felt like I didn’t want to ruin these moments for the families. In the end, it surprised me with some clean, touching moments that I don’t think I would have otherwise got. Three year-old Alexander Hernandez running up to his father, MSG Jose Hernandez, in formation was definitely the kicker for me and the last frame I shot as I left.
May 30th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
Man I love that first photo with the boy. Makes me smile yet with a tear in my eye. As always, great stuff chip!
June 1st, 2009 at 6:19 am
Chip that is a great shot of Alexander (The Little Boy) standing with his father. I’m his uncle and we are going to miss Jose while he is over seas and we wish him a safe return. I’d love to get a copy of that shot so that I may frame and give to my sister and Alexander as a gift if that would be possible?
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:47 pm
From the pictures to the anecdote, it was extremely touching. I am trying to learn photography in my spare time, and you are truly amazing and inspirational.
March 17th, 2010 at 1:00 am
[...] Alexander Hernandez, 3, sneaks over from the crowd to grip the hand of his father, Master Sgt. Jose Hernandez of Orlando, as he stands in formation during a deployment ceremony for the Sentinel Detachment 3rd Battalion 265th Air Defense Artillery from Sarasota STAFF PHOTOS / CHIP LITHERLAND [...]
March 18th, 2010 at 11:43 am
[...] Alexander Hernandez, 3, sneaks over from the crowd to grip the hand of his father, Master Sgt. Jose Hernandez of Orlando, as he stands in formation during a deployment ceremony for the Sentinel Detachment 3rd Battalion 265th Air Defense Artillery from Sarasota STAFF PHOTOS / CHIP LITHERLAND [...]