I picked up the habit of watching people from my Grandma, as it was her favorite pastime. She never sought to engage with others; she simply enjoyed observing. I never quite understood her reasoning; I just knew she always wanted to be where the people were and see what they were doing. I could only imagine that by watching their lives, she was reliving hers or wishing to be like them. I didn’t research Alzheimer’s or dementia much; all I know is that it is a thief. She could remember her childhood and working years, but the present slipped away.

  When I took my camera out to capture life as it unfolded, I realized I was freezing those fleeting moments—like the ones my Grandma would soon forget—walking, shopping, enjoying the circus, or watching the Bubble Man. By slowing down and simply observing people as their lives unfolded, I developed a newfound appreciation for cherishing those moments.

  My camera is an extension of my eye, and through photographing people, I glimpsed lives lived in France. I began to understand why Grandma enjoyed watching people. As I walked alongside many of those I photographed, I imagined what their lives were like, putting myself in their shoes. In a way, the camera gives me an excuse to look beyond the scene and capture life’s fleeting moments, just like my Grandma did.

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-Molly Sheehan 2024