March 2nd, 2012 I received a sms telling me that a relative of mine, Ivar, just passed away. Ivar & Brita. Two names together, now only one left behind, Brita. Last Xmas, December 2011, we could not see them when Tian and I went back to Norway. They were too exhausted to receive visitors so we could not meet them, not even briefly. The Xmas before that, December 2010, we were fortunate enough to see them.
That year, 2010, I only brought one camera body and a wide angle zoom lens with a slow f stop, f.4. Last year, 2011, I brought a new, fast zoom lens, f.2.8 and a flashgun, sb-800, so I would be better prepared. It did not help. My last images are taken by the camera with the slow lens. It was the best I had at that time and even though I got a better one now, it cannot me help to create memories when the time has passed, when the moment has slipped away.
The best camera will always be the one that you have available there and then.
I am glad that a slow lens did not stop me from capturing these moments, my last memories of Ivar, the gentleman in every word, may you rest in peace.