Woman Captures Special Shadow At OKC National Memorial & Museum

In the time since the devastation of the Oklahoma City bombing, one woman has found therapy through photography. Her aunt died in the attack, but it's a special picture of her memorial chair that she took that shows she's not forgotten.

Since this memorial has been built, Allison Bonds said she's only been twice because it's too difficult to come. That was until her beginners photography class instructor required it, which later resulted in Allison taking her most memorable picture.

On a still, quiet day Allison Bonds was at peace.

"It was so silent when I was here, I couldn't explain the mood," Bonds said.

For years, the Oklahoma City bombing has been at the center of her grief, and the pain still shows.

“My aunt was amazing, she loved to read, she was just 41 years old,” Bonds said.

Bond's aunt Terry Smith Rees died in the Murrah Federal building on April 19, 1995. She worked for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as did her husband on the same floor, but he survived.

As a tribute, a former co-worker Robert Roddy tagged a touching message to each memorial chair saying, “We will never forget.”

Tragedy struck a second time on April 19 two years ago, when Bond's mother died of pancreatic cancer.

'It's hard to lose somebody, but it's really hard to have them taken so soon," Bonds said.

At a breaking point, Bonds pointed her pain through a lens and started taking pictures. Last June was Bond's most challenging assignment; taking pictures at Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. Bonds talked to her instructor hoping to get out of it, but she pushed through and began photographing her aunt's memorial chair.

It was when something big stood out.

"When I went back to re-edit, I was like oh my gosh, that's Oklahoma."

A shape of the state was revealed in the shadows next to the chairs.

“It reminded me of you know Oklahoma, we've been in deep shadow times that are dark but we come out of it we always, there's hope," Bonds said.

She posted the picture which has since gone viral and helped bring her closure.

"My mother and my aunt, they were best friends, I felt like they were with me that day when I was out here taking the picture."

Bonds is selling her photos and giving portions of the money to the memorial and the Regional Food Bank.

Learn more about her photos and partnership with the Regional Food Bank.