Capturing final, precious moments

Stephanie Simon in the Los Angeles Times: In the muted light of the maternity ward, photographer Sandy Puc' works steadily, composing portraits of David. She focuses on his tiny toes, his curled fists, his mother gently stroking his cheek. "I think I got everything," she says at last. Then she turns with her Canon. "If you want to put your lips right on the top of his head?" she asks David's father. "There. That's beautiful." There is always a final kiss to capture. David was stillborn early this morning, without kidneys or working lungs. His parents, Gina and Rob Harris, will take home his plastic hospital bracelet and his blue blanket, embroidered with stars. They will try to hold onto their memories, but those will blur, and they will turn to these portraits: Gina nuzzling David's hair, so dark and curly, just like his dad's. Rob bending to dress his son. Sandy knows what the pictures will mean; that's why she has come and stayed all night. A photographer who teaches portraiture worldwide, she also runs a volunteer network dedicated to photographing dead and dying infants. | Read more... | Photo gallery

Photo: Sandy Puc/Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep