In Memory of Dave Phillips

Well this is distinctly different than the Blog I used to write in my Mac based software I Web.  I thought about not adding this to my site but was encouraged by my friend, and fellow shooter Dan Newton to start up again.  Thanks Dan.

I want to share something that happened a couple of weeks back.  I had been working on my web site which was driven by making it easier for my audience to view and purchase my event photos.  When I got to my “About Page” on my site, I took some time to think about what it means to me to be a photographer.

One of the things I mention is that a photographer captures a moment in time.  When you click the shutter, time stops.  You can then go back in time and experience that “moment” time and time again.  I love that.  It is also an awesome responsibility.

I traveled to Sierra at Tahoe with my Best Friend Tom and his daughter Kelly.  Tom was racing that day.  I set up for the shoot about 10 gates down from the start.  During the second run a racer went by followed by another racer and then my friend Tom.  I am so intent on getting the shot I usually don’t have time to stop and watch the skiers after they go by me.

Time stopped, the race went on a “Course Hold” which means no one left the start after Tom.  Over a half hour passed before I heard anything.  One of the Race Dept. Staff skied up to me and asked if I had heard what had happened?  I had not.  He informed me that a racer had experienced a heart attack at the finish.  My first thought was it was Tom.  He was the last racer to go past me.  I asked if he knew who it was.  He mentioned someone named Dave Phillips.  At first I felt relief that is wasn’t Tom but then a great sadness swept over me.  As I thumbed through my images I found Dave’s image.  He had a Giant smile on his face as he skied past me.  The kind of joy only a skier that loves what they are experiencing exhibits.

Several of my ski friends tried for over a half hour to resussitate Dave.  The Ski Patrol came to help and called in a helicopter to evacuate Dave.  Dave passed away that day. It left a profound sadness with all of us, yet Dave was obviously doing what he loved.

It touched me that I had taken the last image of Dave, 30 seconds or so before he passed away.  Remember that “moment in time?”  I captured that moment of Dave.  It made me realize that you never know when you pick up the camera what might happen afterwards.  I am grateful that I was able to share that “moment” with Dave’s family.  I thank God he has given me the talent and passion for photography.

More Later,

Tommy