Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/12/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On Dec 11, 2010, at 1:17 PM, Peter Klein wrote: > Tina and Jeffery wrote: > >> Me, too. Steve's photos are the very epitome of caring and love. I would >> be honored to be included. >> >> Tina >> >> On Fri, Dec 10, 2010 at 9:26 PM, Jeffery Smith <jsmith342 at gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >> > I hope that when I'm 90 and have dementia, someone cares enough to >> > visit no >> > less take my photo. I don't consider it something to be ashamed of. >> > >> > Jeffery > > I agree with most of the posters. I think Steve is doing this project with > love and caring, and that comes through loud and clear in the work. > > I understand that this project can evoke discomfort in some viewers. I > think there are two reasons for that. One is that some may feel that the > subjects are being "exploited." The other is that we don't want to see > the results of the disease, with its helplessness and loss of major parts > of the essence of self. We don't want to be reminded of what might happen > if we, or someone we love, had this disease a major reason for doing this project Peter has been my conviction that people need to understand this disease and respect its victims... not push it away. It is here and now, front and center in vastly increasing numbers. It is time to stop pretending that it doesn't exist... It is time to come to grips with dementia, to respect it, and to not be afraid of people who have it. Important rather to see the victims, know them as they are us, to comprehend, to respect the essence of their humanity. > We've been desensitized to the horrors of distant wars, floods, > earthquakes and famines. As Ted noted, we've seen so many photos of them. > This is different. It's personal, and it's something that could hit any of > us. > > I can understand the discomfort. But anyone who knows Steve knows that his > motivations are beyond reproach. And what he's created has beauty and > meaning. It might help us understand that crazy homeless person down the > street. Or that even if Uncle Jack isn't what he used to be, he's still > Uncle Jack. even though he may not always know it, we know it. Steve > > --Peter > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information