A question on living and dying

Except for the fact that taking a photograph is a way to transcend death and reach immortality (???), no, the knowledge of my imminent death hasn’t affected my life (until now?). Basically I’m not trying to be a good person because I’m going to die but because I think it’s better for everyone.

John

Hi John!

How are you? Reaching immortality through photography – I’d give a ??? to too. Learning to live each day in peace alongside others and cherishing each moment (whether with a camera in one’s hand or not) is what I give a thumbs up to!!!

Wishing you a wonderful day!

Jenny

i got caught up in a riot in drc, my thoughts on death at the time were hopes of a painless passing but fear of death strangely not…

i hope that my wife and kids will be okay. i also hope that the images in my camera at the time will speak fluently of the time.

John R,

Are you used to ‘being close to death’ in your work or was the drc riot a rarity for you to be involved in?

Jenny

interviewer: do you want to achieve immortality through your work?
woody allen: no, i want to achieve immortality through not dying.

death is the fundamental parameter to existence. in order to live fully i think you have to come to terms with it, to make it present in some way. but a healthy attitude towards death is slowly being expunged from western society; doesn’t gel with the slick omnipotence of free-market consumerism.

i have found myself in crisis quite often jenny, i kind of rational my way through, in the end if death comes there is not much that i can do about it. i try to do the job at hand to the best i can, plan as best as i can, look back when i can and say wow!

drc was a riot in the best ways too, such a crazy place!

peace, salaam.

a couple of days ago i discovered this very moving work:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/gallery/2008/mar/31/lifebeforedeath?picture=333325401

Thanks Dana.

dana – extraordinary set of pictures, thanks for the link.

death is so often compared to sleep, but apart from one or two, these people so not look asleep to me … you can see that something has left them.

moving, i did a series on my mother over the last 18 months of her life, the photo i took just after she died had the same emptyness about it.

La Muerte,

Photography in certain ways takes,(people or things) the right to die or maybe disappear in a corporal way, because of a matter of time, exposure,pixels, etc. 
I was doing some pictures on the road and thought a lot about that; (http://www.digitalrailroad.net/SouthCone/gpgs.aspx?pgid=16173748&e=0&p=0)   
It's nice to know that death's there, besides every culture has it's own way to feel it. meanwhile i only know living and i love it, cheers.
Patricio

A solo mountain climber got lost in Japan in January. He survived after 2 or 3 days of wandering, but his thoughts were he should not or could not die because of his mother. People are more likely to die if they decide to give up or photography or something else becomes more important than one`s life.

Ultimately we will all die. We have no idea why we were born or the reason why we are alive. Some find comfort in religious beliefs and this gives them solace. Being a secular humanist myself this does not provide neither an answer nor solace of any kind. I try to approach my work as some kind of document to leave behind, some tangible proof that I was once here. Are they great photos? That does not matter, that will be someone else’s opinion. Life is what it is for each one. No one handed me a handbook. My job is to try to make sense of it by myself. Some choose painting, medicine,Scientology,Budhism,drugs, you name it. Some of us chose to make photographs. That is the tool I use to navigate. It’s not Life itself.
But in terms of mortality coloring my work,no. John Vink has it right I think. You should be a good, decent person because you can and you should not because of some kind of spiritual “reward”. THAT is the moral imperative.

A cheerful little subject Jenny !
Reminds me of the cynical printer I used to work with many years ago on a local paper. At around 5 o’clock he sometimes used to say “Oh well, another day over, another step nearer the grave”.
I guess as you get older the thought does occur that time is running out. But to quote Woody Allen,(again), “I’m not afraid of dying. I just don’t want to be there when it happens”.

yea …..........................................................................................................

http://www.artouko.com/gfre/

Lessons in Death and Life by Dave LaBelle

Am I going to die? Yes. Is there anything I can do to prevent this from happening, other than eating mueslix with soy milk three times a day and who the hell wants to do that? No. Then why worry about it?

Can’t do crap about the beginning or the stupid end, so I concentrate on the middle.

just do what you can accomplish right now! Who knows whats going to happen in the next moment.

Thanks for your thoughts so far…

Dana: Yes, it’s that something that’s left the body that that so interests me. To be living is a gift, easy to take for granted, to loose perspective. I recently saw a film along the lines of the ‘lifebeforedeath’ sequence here that I very much doubt would be aired back home – i think it’s a cultural thing, as David Sutherland says.

John WR: Your words made me giggle – so English! They remind me of old Blighty…

Peace and Live It!

Jenny

For a great book about death rituals have a look at Vivir la Muerte, by bastienne schmidt. Limitations are important. We tend to think of them as obstacles, but in fact Jesus got it right: the stumbling block is what frees you. Remember that Miles Davis became Miles Davis because he couldnt become Dizzy Gillespie.

Jon: And neither could Miles Davis or Dizzy Gillespie become CelloMan – his harmonious blend of jazz, world and classical music that rocks your body and stirs your soul….

John R: Yes, may it be a WOW!!!

Peace,

Jenny

Jamie: I’ve been thinking on your words. Yes, it would be nice to be remembered, and to know that what you are doing will help – if not now, then in the future. I feel so at peace when I photograph but to be where I am doesn’t make any sense, and yet, I feel sure this is where I’m meant to be. I just hope I will not look back with regret for being separated from my family for so long – 2 years now. I can see the images in my mind that mean most to me – they’re in the family albums. It’s a great pity they don’t understand what motivates me. We agree on it being about ‘duty’, but don’t share the same ideas on where our duties lie.

Thanks so much for all your comments. Please add some more…

Jenny