beacons of strength

October is a very aware month. In addition to the more well known Breast Cancer Awareness Month it is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I photographed a vigil the other night held to honor and remember the people who have died in the last year as a result of domestic violence in Georgia. Two women gave emotional accounts of their survival of abuse. Then one of their daughters read a poem about living with a father that abused their mother. The emotions were very raw and the pain that these people had gone through resonated across the lawn in front of the Barrow County Courthouse. I've shot several vigils, but never one quite like this. I've been to vigils to celebrate things, to honor the dead, to remember events. I'd never been to one where surviving victims were there to shine like beacons of strength to help others. It was a powerful thing.
Photo-wise I worked the crowd carefully not to draw too much attention to myself. I became fixated on the girl who read the poem because her emotion was very present in her face and body language. Adding to my fixation on shooting her, she was standing right in front of a floodlight which (in the last photo) lit her up like an angel.


A prayer is said before the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil to remember those who have died as a result of domestic violence this year in Georgia Tuesday Oct. 13, 2009, outside of the Barrow County Courthouse in Winder.


From left Michaela Johnson, 10, April Johnson, Emma Johnson, 6, and Jason Johnson, Jr., 8, look at cutouts displaying the names of people who have died as a result of domestic violence this year in Georgia.


Brenda Heim of Winder reads the names displayed on cutouts of the people who died as a result of domestic violence in the last year in Georgia.


Wanda Lamb tells her story of surviving domestic violence during the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil for Domestic Violence Awareness month.


Tranteegus D. Allen tells her story of surviving domestic violence.


Tranteegus D. Allen tells her story of surviving domestic violence during the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil to remember those who have died as a result of domestic violence in the last year in Georgia.


Antonio Epps waits to give a performance during the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil for Domestic Violence Awareness.


Megan Lamb reads a poem about domestic violence during the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil.


People listen to a musical performance by Antonio Epps during the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil.


Candles are lit during the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil.


Emma Johnson, 6, admires her flaming candle during the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil Tuesday Oct. 13, 2009, outside of the Barrow County Courthouse in Winder.


People listen as the names of people who died as a result of domestic violence this year in Georgia are read aloud.


Megan Lamb,right, leans on friend Alex Ramirez during the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil.


Jason Johnson Jr., 8, right, and sister Emma Johnson, 6, hold their flaming candles.


Megan Lamb, right of center, leans on friend Alex Ramirez.


A bell is rung as the name of each person who died as a result of domestic violence in Georgia in the past year is read aloud during the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil.


Megan Lamb, center, leans on friend Alex Ramirez during the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil to remember those who have died as a result of domestic violence in the last year in Georgia Tuesday Oct. 13, 2009, outside of the Barrow County Courthouse in Winder.