FOR JEFF by fzaidi

If landscape photography has taught us anything it is the ephemeral nature of the fleeting beauty that we all try to capture in our own unique way. Catching the right moment is considered to be one of the primary objectives of any passionate photographer. The moment passes but its essence always burns a footprint in the memory of the observer and with some skill and creative expression the photographer can share that memory with the rest of the community in the form of a photograph. The analogy of life and people you meet is similar. Lives eventually end and people eventually leave but the lasting impression some of them make in your memory and in your life is what survives everything else. Jeff Swanson was one such fleeting moment in the life of many photographers as nature took him away from all of us at such an early age. I was not lucky enough to meet him in person but hearing about him from my photographer friends and viewing his work, I realize how special and talented he was in his skill to capture those transient moments. We as a photographic community are at a loss today because we do not have him around us but he must have felt proud had he known how he was able to bring together a community of photographers from different places and backgrounds for a cause. We can all play our part in paying tribute to his work by visiting jeffitandbethere.com. All funds raised by the sale of Jeff's prints will contribute to the donation in his name to the Melanoma Research Foundation. via 500px