brandonhamilton Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 My best friend is in the army, and is also a photographer. One of the members of his unit was killed in Iraq two weeks ago. An insurgent rammed his Hum-V with a car, filled with explosives. It killed him plus another. Anyway, my friend was asked to photograph the funeral, and being such a HUGE day, he asked for my help. He wanted to make sure we got it all. At first I thought it was going to be no big deal. We would get in, shoot, and get out before a camping trip that same night. Well, I must say it was far mor difficult to photograph then I could ever imagine, in more ways then one! Even though I was soley the photographer with no connection, it was very very very difficult to listen to the soldiers best friend since age 5 talk about him being the best human being he's ever known. Anyway, I just thought I would share that with the rest of you, and share a couple of images. I invite you to share similar experiences with this type of "difficult" shooting environment. - Brandon<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandonhamilton Posted October 28, 2004 Author Share Posted October 28, 2004 another<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandonhamilton Posted October 28, 2004 Author Share Posted October 28, 2004 Last one.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melisa Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 At first, I wasn't sure I wanted to look at these, but I'm glad I did. You gave me goosebumps Brandon, I'm sure I could not do this and hold it together. You captured these shots beautifully and with taste. Wonderful symbolism, very gripping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandonhamilton Posted October 28, 2004 Author Share Posted October 28, 2004 I have another shot towards the end of the ceremony, of a very high ranking officer presenting the fallen's purple heart, to his eldest son, who i believe was about 9. I wasn't sure if I should post it or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris m., central florida Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 Please do post it. You should think about submitting this as a photo essay to your local newspaper or magazine as a photo essay. I understand this may be a sensitive topic for the family and you'd need their permission. Maybe it will help the world to understand what happens when one of our soldiers comes home this way. Sometimes pictures say a lot more than words could ever say. Very touching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimberly c. Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 I understand (a bit) I was hired to photograph the sister and later the mother of a priest in my area (in the casket) I had to show up after the hours (which were in the home) at about midnight, and it was (I'll call her lisa) me, and the priest with my tripod and camera. It was very hard because I was technically shooting a still life (Im not trying to be funny) which was a close living family member 2 days before. I know its going to sound crazy, but the pictures turned out beautiful. If anyone is going to ask WHY? Its a long standing tradition in the Italian culture that very few still practice. I also shot the funeral and I must say yours look like they came right out of Life magazine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_hovland Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 Years ago I shot my first video at the funeral of my favorite uncle. It was a last-minute request from one of his sons. It was very strange to make images while holding my own sadness. One motive for making the video was to prove that he was dead to his wife, who was terminally ill at the time and could not come to the funeral. Both of these people died from an overdose of pain medication. He took a handfull of pills while waiting for an exam (he was dying of colon cancer,) and when it became hopeless, she was provided with a pain pump she could turn up to the point where it put her to sleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellis_vener_photography Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 <I>Please do post it. </I><P>while I too would like to see it, <U> Please don't post it until you have the surviving family members permission.</U> It is their moment not a spectacle for public consumption, and maybe they want to keep it that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandonhamilton Posted October 28, 2004 Author Share Posted October 28, 2004 It was very very difficult to shoot because there were SO many people crowding around, moving, there was very little space in which to arrange a great shot. There just simply wasn't room, and I certainly wasn't about to "get in the way" to get my shot... I did the best I could from the outskirts, with my 200. I wish I could share more, these are the least sentimental of them all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
william_au Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 Moving shots Brandon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnmarkpainter Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 Brandon, Great shots, but as Ellis said...DON'T spread these around without the permission of the family. jmp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandonhamilton Posted October 28, 2004 Author Share Posted October 28, 2004 i dont see any thing wrong displaying the one's iv shown here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnmarkpainter Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 Brandon, I didn't say there was anything wrong...personally, I wouldn't post any that showed the faces of attendees. jmp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_levine Posted October 29, 2004 Share Posted October 29, 2004 Very sobering, the sort of shots the present administration doesnt want us to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mondiani Posted October 29, 2004 Share Posted October 29, 2004 Who asked your friend to shot this funeral? A newspaper? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandonhamilton Posted November 1, 2004 Author Share Posted November 1, 2004 The Family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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