Still Life

[tesarver]

This article makes you wonder if this is where the term Still Life came from.

Tom

[the black fox]

Re: Still Life

made me shiver

[Nathaniel]

Re: Still Life

Thanks Tom for this link. Very interesting although macabre!

[jimsphotography]

Re: Still Life

Fascinating - I know some people will see as gruesome but I don't think that was the intention at the time. I remember going into an underground mausoleum in Sicily where the custom (some 80 Years ago) was to dress the dead up in their finest clothes, prop them up, and then the family could visit them every now & then for a friendly chat etc.
James

[Tigger]

Re: Still Life

should have posted this on halloween Tom... spooky

interesting link - cheers

[jk224]

Re: Still Life

2nd November in Mexico is "Dia de los Muertos" (Day of the Dead), a national holiday where families go to cemeteries and have parties on the graves of their loved ones, which usually have photographs on, and celebrate their lives. I suppose in Victoria times when photography was new and still relatively expensive, people often passed away without ever having a photograph or image taken of them, so this was the only way the families would have of having something to remember them by.

I have photographs of both my kids from an early age, and both grandkids from only minutes after birth, yet I have very few of my parents and none of my grandparents. We are so lucky these days that photography is so available and affordable.

[Tigger]

Re: Still Life

2nd November in Mexico is "Dia de los Muertos" (Day of the Dead), a national holiday where families go to cemeteries and have parties on the graves of their loved ones, which usually have photographs on, and celebrate their lives. I suppose in Victoria times when photography was new and still relatively expensive, people often passed away without ever having a photograph or image taken of them, so this was the only way the families would have of having something to remember them by.
.

we have that here also - the cemeteries get so busy that the police have to control the traffic and in some cases close the road for parking only as car parks can't cope

[GORDH]

Re: Still Life

When I worked at a local photographers in Halifax we used to regularly have to photograph funerals of the East European community which was very much like a wedding, taking photos of family at the house with an open coffin propped up, individual members were posed with the deceased as well as group shots, then onto the cemetery for more shots, final onto the wake.... I found it all very macabre and weird but to my boss it was money

Gordon

[Nathaniel]

Re: Still Life

This might or might not surprise the members. After looking at Tom's link I must admit that I did take photographs of my late father in death (1981). The pics were of great comfort to my late mother after nearly 65 years of marriage. The pics were also a great comfort to my elder bro in Canada who could not attend the funeral in Sri Lanka at that time. By return token my brother sent me photos of my late mother who died in Canada in 1985- after she was taken there due to the problems in Sri Lanka at that time. My photos are all in slides.

[ST-EOS]

Re: Still Life

Interesting link Tom

[Tigger]

Re: Still Life

When I worked at a local photographers in Halifax we used to regularly have to photograph funerals of the East European community which was very much like a wedding, taking photos of family at the house with an open coffin propped up, individual members were posed with the deceased as well as group shots, then onto the cemetery for more shots, final onto the wake.... I found it all very macabre and weird but to my boss it was money

Gordon

I know photographers that offer this service - although its not something I would be happy doing, do you say "smile"

[DeeGee]

Re: Still Life

Interesting link Tom. I think if the photos bring comfort to those left then why not.

I'm sure that we've all seen items online about photographing funerals etc... makes for some very powerful imagery takes a special person to stand behind the camera me thinks.