Why? Death is a stigma and a burden that can hold us captive. May this be a process through which a loved one can be remembered and through which memories can be re-lived. Even though the pain of the loss may remain, may this go some way in relieving the hurt and the stigma of death and act as a public declaration that death has lost it’s sting.
How? I ask each participant to find a photograph of themselves with their lost loved one. I then return to the location of the original photograph to replicate the image.
It is a chance to think back and remember, to tell the story of that day and of the person that they have lost. Imagery allows for expression beyond what we can speak of. We hope it is an experience that contributes to the restorative process in overcoming the painful impact of loss.
About Me. I am a freelance photographer based in Manchester. I lost my father to prostate cancer in December 2009.
Thank you Ceryl, I hope that in making this you have found some comfort. We have much in common as we live in Cardiff and have a caravan at Lawrenny Quay and we are in the position of your parents in that we also lost our first grandchild, Peter Baldwin to undiagnosed Type1 Diabetes at the age of 13. I’m sure your thoughtful and gentle words will help others.
Thank you for posting this. I have lost people who still remain an integral part of my life and have never had a place or other people I can express this grief with. It has now been buried deeply for so many years that I literally am unable to cry or to feel joy in life. So I think it is important to have a way to acknowledge the loss and your pictures project shows a creative way to do that.
Does anyone know more details about Paul: what did he die of & how old was he? I heard about this project on BBC NEWS today. I felt particularly moved by this story. My heart goes out to Maike. I wonder if the both of them have autism. The way Maike described her life with Paul makes me think they might have. What you are doing with this project is so beautiful. R.I.P. Paul.
Thanks for sharing. The project intentionally doesn't ask for facts about people's loss as the aim isn't to reduce the experience into facts, it's aimed at listening to someone's account of the person they have lost and their experience. I understand you asking the questions though, as it is a fairly natural reaction for us to want to know more about each others lives. As far as I am aware, neither Paul or Maike had/have autism.
