The story behind the picture: "Belfast 23"

I've just recently unearthed this photo from the thousands of images I've collected over the years. Originally taken with my Asahi Pentax on 35 mm Illford film, I scanned the negative and converted to a digital file...I know, snore! Get to the story bit, right? Okay.

This angel keeps watch over a beautiful cemetery in Belfast, ME. My then-boyfriend (now husband) and I were on vacation in Maine during August of 2000 - we'd been hiking for several days (not non-stop, I might add) and I was still wearing my thick-treaded trail boots when I saw this cemetery and begged to go inside. This statue was breathtaking....and she towered well above 10 feet tall on top of a hill. Even with my telephoto lens, I couldn't get the angle I wanted. Rather than give up, I asked my then-boyfriend (now husband) if I could stand on his shoulders. Me, my muddy hiking boots with the vicious treads, and my 900 pound camera, climbed up and stood precariously perched 6 feet above ground level on the shoulders of my then-boyfriend (now husband). He stood patiently while I clicked away, taking at least 20 shots before I agreed to remove my boots from his shoulders.

Now, just in case you all think he should be canonized for his patience and sacrifice, I must add that he owed me for putting out the fire HE accidentally started in the state park and for finding our way back to the tent the night before when he assured me he knew which way the trail was headed. It's amazing we ever got engaged after that trip...

Every time I see this photo, I laugh when I think of how I managed to capture the shot - I couldn't have done it without him.