Finding the Forgotten - Providing a voice to Veterans

I keep feeling the pull to begin photographing veterans. I want to do a piece that will highlight our veterans and also provide a voice to them and what their needs are in coming home, resources for employment, financial, whatever. It is a topic that I want to title, "Finding the Forgotten". I am hoping that in providing a voice to my fellow comrades that it will assist in my recovery from my own PTSD. It is a topic that is haunting me and persists in my head and heart. If you are someone who has served at any tme and would be interested in participating in this project, please use the link below and let's begin a conversation. If you are someone who could possibly employ a veteran or a company that could provide services of any kind, please use the link below so we can also begin a conversation.
As I mentioned I am having my own struggles with PTSD (non-combat related) and this project may not get off the ground for a period of time as I'm workng through my stuff right now. But I will get back to you. Here is the link:

http://patriciacastagne.com/contact/

Semper Fi, Patti

Whisper of a Memory

I'm editing photos and the theme from an old movie comes on and it stops me in my tracks and brings me back to a time of an amazing love that is no longer. No sadness or remorse but just amazing gratitude of having someone like that in my life for the time that she was there. And now she's not and I am left with this amazing memory. I have some photographs but none do justice to the memories in my head. And I guess that is my regret; that I never captured that look of love in her eyes, the playfulness, the not so playfulness when I didn't do something nice or just the way she simply said hello. Didn't capture that.

The great thing though is that it pushes me to do that each and every day and make sure I capture that moment. It pushes me to try and try to be a better photographer as well as a better person. Isn't that the reason and a season thing? What did I learn from this? What did I give? How can I love more?

My life is being pushed to so many limits right now. Grow here and there and be uncomfortable. But my mantra is whatever it takes, whatever I need to do to push through this to be a better wife, person, a better photogapher...just better.

Place of Peace

I first began taking pictures in 2009 when I first moved to Western Massachusetts. I had a point and shoot Sony that I loved. The thing is I never really felt like I took good pictures until someone introduced me to the Quabbin. Being from Long Island, one always adds "the" to most things; the city, the island, the whatever. Anyway, the Quabbin is an amazing place. It's the main water supply for Boston and other towns. That's not the amazing thing, it's the history of the Quabbin that's amazing. There were about 5 towns that were taken over by eminent domain and people were relocated from their homes to new towns and over several decades the Quabbin was created. I have hiked many of the trails there and just find it to be a place of peace.

Today was one of those days that I needed some peace. And of course, I wasn't disappointed. It had snowed earlier in the day so I was able to get some shots of the snow on the trees and take a nice long walk. My heart and soul feel so much better after being there and having camera in hand my mood is often reflected in my shots.

I think everyone should have a place like the Quabbin..respite from the rest of the world where stuff just doesn't matter about 5 minutes after being there. Every problem finds it's perspective and place and the moment is all that matters. I'm grateful for this place. My place of peace.

Fear in different disguises.

Have made a couple of trips to NY and NJ where Hurricane Sandy left her mark.  The devastation is beyond words.  To be there and among the ruins and the devastation is unbelievable.  Yet the people are what amaze me each and every time.  People who are forced to live in the solution rather than the problem.  Saying, whaddya gonna do?  They just do and get what's needed done and move on to the next thing.  I am amazed and in awe of the spirit and the chutzpah.  And it is times like these that I am homesick for NY and NJ.  Where you can say what you feel and it's okay.  

My biggest problem today was the threat of a casino so close to me in Western Massachusetts.  And for now, in Holyoke, MA it was averted.  And I am grateful that our immediate area will retain it's beauty and classic look.  The mountains are beautiful here.  I can't see them scarred with man made construction and the blinking lights and traffic.  It would be such a loss to us and to Massachusetts. So I am glad that the mayor of Holyoke remembered why he was elected and allowed people in the neighboring cities to breathe a collective sigh of relief.  I sure did.

Rockaway 2012