THROUGH MY LENS: A TRIBUTE TO A FRIEND

Grief has a way of slowing everything down. When I learned my friend had passed, the weight of it was crushing, unreal. I didn’t know what to do with the shock, the pain, or the guilt. So, I picked up my camera—not to escape, but to find a way through. Photography has always helped me make sense of my emotions and the quiet moments in between, and this time, it became a way to confront my grief.

Reflections Through the Lens

I walked with no real plan, just my camera and the heaviness of loss. I let my instincts take over, pressing the shutter when something pulled at me. The images weren’t intentional; they were simply what I felt—solitude, nostalgia, disbelief, gratitude. In some way, each frame helped me hold onto the friendship that shaped me, even as I tried to come to terms with its absence.

All content © 2024 Leticia Valdez Fotografia

Grief doesn’t have a clear path, but photography gave me a way to move through it. These images will not bring my friend back, but they hold pieces of what I felt in those moments—shock, loss, and the quiet presence of someone who meant so much to me. 

Rest easy, AE.

All images distributed by Leticia Valdez Fotografia are professionally copyrighted works. These images cannot be used or altered for any purpose without permission. Copyright © 2024 Leticia Valdez Fotografia LLC.