Funeral photography?

[phil_kneen]

Allen, I've said it a million times, photography is nothing to do

with gear or magazines or forums, it's to do with photographs. A

single picture can mean a thousand different things to a thousand

different people. A good photo to me is one that makes me think '

shit, I wish I'd taken that'.

 

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The only photo that has come close to reducing me to tears is a

piture of a starving albino Biafran kid taken by Don McCullin.Most of

the photo's on this site have the same effect, but the tears are

tears of bordom and frustration. (honest answer)

[Allen Herbert]

A good photo to me is one that makes me think ' I wish I'd taken that'

 

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Good answer i agree whatever the photo is about.

[charles barcellona www.bl]

Phil, I apologize... I didn't wish you dead, it was a joke (an

irrisistable one!). I'm "dead" serious on the funeral photography

though. Its a service that is needed, and which the photographic

community provides. Heck in N'Orleans they have bands at a

traditional funeral!

 

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Once again, I'm sorry for the tasteless joke.

[dennis_couvillion]

What a coincidence!!! My grandmother died this weekend and the

funeral is Wednesday. Now I can cash those savings bonds Grammy had

given me. As a tribute to her, I'm going to phtotgraph her funeral

and create a lasting remembrance of her. For the job I've decided to

spend my inheritance on a new M7 and to use it to photograph my

granny's send-off. My question is this: SHOULD I GET SILVER OR

BLACK?

 

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Please help!!! The funeral is Wednesday. Thanks a bunch, guys.

 

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Dennis

[raymond_tai]

I just shot a funeral a few months ago as a favor for a friend's

family and the experience was quite unnerving. Flash was out of the

question so I used an M6 with 75mm and 35mm 'lux, TMZ (at 1600)and

Scala. Everything turned out nicely. CN400 would have been better.

[mark-j]

Dennis: I would go with a black armband, and whatever color camera

you would like.

 

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MJ

[andy_piper2]

Phil (and others) - rent the video of the movie "The Loved One" for one

view of the American way of death - Jeff's picture is, by comparison, a

model of propriety, grace, and beauty.

 

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No, it's a model of propriety, grace and beauty - period.

[peter_mackay2]

...or "Harold and Maude". A young millionaire son has a common

interest in funerals with an old penniless woman.

[phil_kneen]

Well, I stand corrected, funeral photography must be the next big

thing to cross the Atlantic, I think I'll give it a miss though!

 

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Charles, I forgive you.

[michaelwildi]

I don't hang out on funerals too often. But about one month ago the

husbund of my girlfriend's sister hanged himself. He left his wife

(my girlfriend's sister) and three doughters (age 11, 16 and 19).

First I thought to report the funeral, but than I decided to leave my

cameras at home, because I didn't want to hurt anybody. Well, when I

arrived at the funeral the widow herself asked me why I didn't bring

my cameras with me. Pretty strange experience for me.

Best regards, Michael

[wgpinc]

Constantine Manos took photographs of the funeral of a black soldier

killed in Viet Nam.

 

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http://www.magnumphotos.com/portfolio/mac/macbio.html

 

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which became an important record of the times. The most famous

picture in the set was a close up of a young girl with a tear running

down her face taken with an M Leica with 90mm lens. Cheers!

[christian_payne]

Wow, just spotted this forum... Back in 2001 i bought

www.funeralphotography.com

Now i sit and wait for the world to become a little more open minded

to the whole idea.

Incidentally i bury my much loved Granddad in two days but i am in

two minds as to wether i should take pictures.

 

The camera often acts as filter on the world and i think i could do

with (being there) and mourning properly.<div></div>

[jean_christophe_barnoud1]

<p>Phil,</p>

<p><i>

" Well, I stand corrected, funeral photography must be the next big thing to cross the Atlantic, I think I'll give it a miss though! "

</i></p>

<p>Alas, the idea is not new ... Portraits of the deceased were already common in the time of the daguerreotype. I guess that the funerals themselves were moving too fast for the photographers of the time (no autoexposure AF digital SLRs, no Leicas either ...)</p>

<p>For instance :<br><a href="http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/DSfarmer.htm">go down to the 3/4 of the page</a><br><a href="http://home.earthlink.net/~benmattison/daguerre/ch3.html">or here ...</a></p>

[christian_payne]

Well,<p>

I went to my Grandads funeral but left my camera at home... I wish i

had taken it. I had organised the funeral and was thinking of other

things, obviously.<p>

 

Then just after my Brother and i lowered the casket into the ground i

had one of those moments where i instinctively reach for my camera.<

p>

 

The scene was beautiful, a field deep in the British countryside,

(green burial). At the foot of the grave a violinist played the most

beutiful of tunes as the family took it in turns to throw single red

roses onto the coffin. I looked across at my Brother as he looked up

at me and we both smiled...<p>

 

My Grandad would of loved it. He always thought of himself as the

Don. I want to remember that moment forever. A picture would have

helped.<p>

 

Anyway i was inspired and saw all the good reasons for capturing

images at funerals. (Especially when family that couldn't make it

asked for pictures.) So with my basic web knowledge i have started to

build http://www.funeralphotography.com<p>

 

If someone finds it and asks, i will take pictures. If not, then the

option is always there for someone to stumble apon.

[oebr]

I had thought about this and not surprised that people do it and the out crys it creates. My uncle is on his death bed and I'm thinking of taking some photos of the funeral. His wife and my aunt (His ex-wife) allowing.

 

And when the day comes... (Hopefully not soon). I will photograph my father's Funeral.

 

I see nothing sick or wrong with it. As long as it's done in a tasteful and respectful manner.

 

<OB>