Bill's last afternoon

bdcolenbdcolen Registered Users Posts: 3,804 Major grins
edited July 30, 2011 in Street and Documentary
I spent Saturday at a hospice in NH visiting my best friend from college, who was diagnosed a month ago with lung cancer and died at 1 a.m. Sunday. He had had a stroke a few hours before I got there, and rather than just stand around, I asked his wife if she'd like me to photograph - his three adult children, his son's wife, and a niece were also there. She said 'yes,' so I did. It's far too early for the family to look at these, and also far, far too early for me to discuss posting them. So here are four images that while meaningful, aren't invasive.

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bd@bdcolenphoto.com
"He not busy being born is busy dying." Bob Dylan

"The more ambiguous the photograph is, the better it is..." Leonard Freed

Comments

  • RichardRichard Administrators, Vanilla Admin Posts: 19,961 moderator
    edited May 30, 2011
    Powerful images, BD. Sorry for your loss.
    My Pics
  • rainbowrainbow Registered Users Posts: 2,765 Major grins
    edited May 30, 2011
    Images do touch an emotional chord. Sorry for the loss of your friend.
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited May 30, 2011
    Vert powerful and touching images BD.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • bdcolenbdcolen Registered Users Posts: 3,804 Major grins
    edited May 30, 2011
    Thank you all. Eventually, with permission, I'll link to the edited set.
    bd@bdcolenphoto.com
    "He not busy being born is busy dying." Bob Dylan

    "The more ambiguous the photograph is, the better it is..." Leonard Freed
  • NmahoochNmahooch Registered Users Posts: 220 Major grins
    edited May 30, 2011
    Wow. very touching. Powerful images.
    http://phlotography.smugmug.com/Nelson-Malave
  • EiaEia Registered Users Posts: 3,627 Major grins
    edited May 30, 2011
    I'm very sorry for the loss of your friend. The photos are powerful and allows us to have a sense of the sadness; yet a great remembrance. Thank you.
    ~AnnaMaria~ My little life in God's big universe
  • lizzard_nyclizzard_nyc Registered Users Posts: 4,056 Major grins
    edited May 31, 2011
    #2 and #4 blow me away.
    The series as whole... you may be out of school, but you continue to teach.
    Liz A.
    _________
  • carolinecaroline Registered Users Posts: 1,302 Major grins
    edited May 31, 2011
    Deeply moving images, thank you for making and sharing them.
    I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend, and send my condolences to the family.

    Caroline
    Mendip Blog - Blog from The Fog, life on the Mendips
    www.carolineshipsey.co.uk - Follow me on G+

    [/URL]
  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited May 31, 2011
    Well done. These will, I'm sure, be treasured.
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • FlyNavyFlyNavy Registered Users Posts: 1,350 Major grins
    edited May 31, 2011
    Very moving photo set. I am sorry for your loss.
    http://jmledy.com/


    http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003085685580
  • bdcolenbdcolen Registered Users Posts: 3,804 Major grins
    edited May 31, 2011
    Thank you, all. When and if I later get permission to make them public, I will link to the edited set of about 35 images.
    bd@bdcolenphoto.com
    "He not busy being born is busy dying." Bob Dylan

    "The more ambiguous the photograph is, the better it is..." Leonard Freed
  • travischancetravischance Registered Users Posts: 642 Major grins
    edited May 31, 2011
    BD:

    Sorry to hear of your loss & I'm sure Bill is in a much better place. As mentioned previously, these images are extremely powerful & have made us all reflect.
    Travis M. Chance
    twin Mark IV's & a bunch of "L" glass
    site ∙ facebook
  • ButtkickerButtkicker Registered Users Posts: 42 Big grins
    edited June 1, 2011
    These images are just wonderful , the likes of which we dont often see
    thanks for posting
    regards
    Chris
  • richardmanrichardman Registered Users Posts: 376 Major grins
    edited June 1, 2011
    BD, I'm sure you know this, but you are incredibly privileged to be able to do this.

    And you did an excellent job. Your friend would be proud.

    Sorry for the loss and thank you for continuing to mentor by examples.
    "Some People Drive, We Are Driven"
    // richard <http://www.richardmanphoto.com&gt;
    richardmanphoto on Facebook and Instagram
  • bdcolenbdcolen Registered Users Posts: 3,804 Major grins
    edited June 1, 2011
    richardman wrote: »
    BD, I'm sure you know this, but you are incredibly privileged to be able to do this.

    And you did an excellent job. Your friend would be proud.

    Sorry for the loss and thank you for continuing to mentor by examples.

    Thank you - and I certainly do know it. mwink.gif
    bd@bdcolenphoto.com
    "He not busy being born is busy dying." Bob Dylan

    "The more ambiguous the photograph is, the better it is..." Leonard Freed
  • wagaboowagaboo Registered Users Posts: 2 Beginner grinner
    edited June 5, 2011
    Not ashamed to say this brought a tear to my eye and I'm so sorry to hear about your friends passing and shots one and two really hit me as I wish I was there to hold my fathers hand at his time of passing.
  • jasonstonejasonstone Registered Users Posts: 735 Major grins
    edited June 8, 2011
    choked me up and bought a tear to my eye... (the topic is quite close to home for me...)

    very moving images which I am sure that the family will cherish at a later stage of the mourning process

    sorry for your loss...
    Jase // www.stonesque.com
  • YaflyyadieYaflyyadie Registered Users Posts: 558 Major grins
    edited June 8, 2011
    My condolences to the family, it is not easy to let go someone who was truly loved.
    Life continues and your pictures made a statement that words can't express; True Love and Dedication in difficult moments.
    Those pictures bring to my mind very hard moments of my life.
    Thanks.
    Y.
  • M38A1M38A1 Registered Users Posts: 1,317 Major grins
    edited June 8, 2011
    I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your friend.

    An amazing, powerful and emotional set which will undoubtedly be treasured by the family.
  • ValerieJeanValerieJean Registered Users Posts: 47 Big grins
    edited July 26, 2011
    Absolutely just, in shock at how these images made me feel. Wow. Especially since I was a Certified Nurses Aid for 9 years while working in a hospital and other nursing homes, and have almost numbed myself to many of the emotions regarding death. Even so, I have still always saw death as one of the most beautiful parts of life. I'm glad your friend had his family close by, I can't tell you how many strangers hands I've held as they crossed over because they didn't have anyone else to do so.

    Being an animal lover and having such a huge respect for their loyalty, the one with the dog faithfully watching the doorway was the cherry on top for the whirlwind these images sent me in. They are all just remarkable. It truly is the most amazing thing how a photographers emotional connection with the subject shines through in the final images. Never ceases. I'm sorry for your loss, and much appreciate you sharing.
    I never question what to do, it tells me what to do. The photographs make themselves with my help. ~Ruth Bernhard
  • bdcolenbdcolen Registered Users Posts: 3,804 Major grins
    edited July 27, 2011
    Thanks so much, ValerieJean - I hope they convey the love and support he had and the value of hospice. (The dog, btw, is one of my pups, who I brought along to visit. It was amazing to see how well behaved and quiet he was despite being about 24 weeks at the time.
    bd@bdcolenphoto.com
    "He not busy being born is busy dying." Bob Dylan

    "The more ambiguous the photograph is, the better it is..." Leonard Freed
  • Firehouses of OhioFirehouses of Ohio Registered Users Posts: 75 Big grins
    edited July 30, 2011
    bdcolen wrote: »
    Thanks so much, ValerieJean - I hope they convey the love and support he had and the value of hospice. (The dog, btw, is one of my pups, who I brought along to visit. It was amazing to see how well behaved and quiet he was despite being about 24 weeks at the time.

    I'm sorry for your loss, we had to put to sleep our 12 year old golden retriever this last spring so the picture of your pup of your at the door is very powerful in particular. I always remark "dogs know" and they indeed do know much more than we'll ever realize.
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