The Iowa Photo: The Homecoming

You know the old saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” I try to take that to heart every day when I leave my house to take photos of my community. Capturing emotions automatically connects us with an image we are looking at and draws us in to want to know the meaning behind it.

I captured this photo while shooting the Iowa vs. Wisconsin game Nov. 12 during the Hawkeyes’ military appreciation day. I overheard the announcer say they had a special surprise for a couple whose son had been overseas serving in the military. I rushed over to see pure elation and excitement come across both parents’ faces when their son surprised them by showing up a month earlier than expected.

As I watched the mother pull back from her son to look at his face more closely, I thought to myself how often we take for granted our loved ones because we see them so often or we get bogged down by our busy lives. This photo for me captures the undying love that a mother has for her child and serves as a reminder that we should all hold our loved ones close when we can.

It is a privilege to be able to share emotional moments like this one and to capture a picture that says it all with just a look.