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A lovely family photography story


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I think it’s a sweet series of snapshots. The point, if any, seems to be its lack of profoundness. I think ‘sentimental’ is a more apt description. It adds up to a personal memento and it’s why such snapshots can matter, often more to the family than to strangers.

"You talkin' to me?"

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You all might also enjoy Larry Towell's "The World From My Front Porch" really great photography in my opinion and a deeply touching theme, I think.

The World from My Front Porch • Larry Towell • Magnum Photos

 

Its basically a documentary series he did of his family at mostly family gatherings over time. Similar in someways to the OP. Check it out.

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The last photo is the most emotional for me, the curtain drops. No more byes. End of an era. We don’t realize how we much we will miss them, when our loved ones are around.

Exactly the same for me.

I can think of no pain greater than goodbye.

I suppose it is proportional to the Love.

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Try childbirth :)

 

We are not talking about physical pain, but emotional pain. Childbirth causes great physical pain that usually (not always) culminates into happiness and hope. Goodbye in this context signifies permanent loss (inevitability and lack of power to stop a loved one from fading into nothingness), and the pain lasts forever.

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Since a lot of people are estranged from or even disowned by parents (thankfully not the case with me), I wonder if a photo essay of such parents through their deaths would have a very different tone, even though for many losing even a reviled parent can still cause psychic pain.

 

I don’t see much emotional pain in any of these photos, to be honest, though I think the pain being read in is real if also a little sticky.

"You talkin' to me?"

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With a few exceptions, I've only ever visited my local (biennial) photo festival, for which I've been a volunteer for a couple of years. In past exhibitions I've been seriously impressed by photographers who have spent 5-10 years documenting their 'story'.

 

One of the curators of my local photo festival (who I know personally) has - for 7 years - pursued a 'personal project': Reinout van den Bergh | Eboundja )

 

eboundja.html

Edited by mikemorrell
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Birth and death can’t be reduced to either an equation or a sentimental platitude. Death does not = pain or physical pain for many. Having been by the side of both my parents and several friends through their deaths, there was an awesome sense of the release from physical and emotional pain. And, as the remaining survivor, I by no means experienced a monotone of emotions like ‘pain.’ There was also relief, gratitude, and joy at the memories. I just can’t create a death equation, and photographs on the subject I’d be most drawn to wouldn’t do that either.

"You talkin' to me?"

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Death as natural a part of living as birth, yet most humans cannot or will not accept the simple fact of their own demise. We don't even use the words "died" or "dead". People "pass" or "pass away", or are "gone". Death is the single absolute in life. Death will happen to us all. It may be brutal, unexpected, swift, timely, lovely, and many other things- including completely natural & slow in coming- as in Ms Dikeman's photo series of her parents' farewells- a sweet, acute, & finite timeline which seems almost nonchalant or unintentional in its making- although in the it end becomes a powerful, moving statement on life, living changes, aging, and love.

 

Though the series takes place in what feels like a typical U.S. suburban lifestyle-type setting, its appeal is atypical & universal, crossing cultural and societal boundaries- because most of can relate directly to the subject matter. Photo projects like this always take me by surprise. I think this kind of work, documenting a family or lifestyle long term is a labor of love. Intentional or not, photographic works of this kind almost always have some relatable impact.

 

Thanks for sharing!

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