Haruko Takahashi Portrait

Every so often, if we are lucky, we meet dynamic and wise people like Haruko Takahashi. Our fates crossed when she needed identification photos. She had such a great time in the studio she kept telling everyone around her “you should bring your family” take pictures in the studio! Soon after that Haruko invited me to visit her on 17 East of the Montreal General Hospital, an invitation I gladly accepted. Haruko has no known family and she bonded with the staff and they in return bonded with her. Haruko just was and she shared her wisdom and educated thoughts … her presence and made its mark. When I was there we had a great chat and wonderful experience. A few days later she died. I do believe in fate and that we meet people for a reason … its just up to us to be aware to see and understand why they are in our lives. As a portrait photographer meeting Haruko was an intense encounter and learning of her sudden death was very shocking and left a mark on me … it was sudden, un-expectected and painful … the human heart is the only organ that keeps breaking, healing and breaking again and again, it is part of the human condition … and we go on …

These are the last portraits I took  of  Haruko. I am glad she got a chance to see the portraits I took before she died. It made her very happy and she was telling me she was going to enter it in a contest. She never got that chance but I have done it on her behalf. Thank You Haruko for being there and reaching out and touching us all. I wish your soul a happy journey home. With lots of love Michael Cichon.