Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/01/27
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> > Johnny Deadman wrote: > > >>>>funerals are fine things to photograph... sometimes. And Ted Grant responded that as news assignments, funerals can be horrors... I want to agree with both, and suggest that the difference is whether you are a.) welcome at said funeral, and b.) intrusive... In deference to Ted, it is virtually impossible NOT to be intrusive at many funerals covered as news assignments. After all, those holding the funeral would rather you weren't there, so by definition you are intrusive, even if you are being your least intrusive. But I agree with Johnny that funerals can be fine things to photograph. If a family is open to the idea, a funeral presents a terrific opportunity to photograph an entire family functioning as a family. It is, in fact, one of the few times when entire families come together. See A Family's Farewell at www.a-day-in-our-life.com You may not like the choice of photos posted - or the photos for that matter - but I believe this will illustrate the point I'm trying to make. And, I would also note...The old woman in the photos "Kitchen Work" and "Looking Back," herself died within a year of the funeral. And her daughter - shown with her in "Kitchen Work" - has repeatedly told me how much it means to her to have those photos...which she wouldn't have had had I not been photographing the funeral and events around it. All of which is to say, the funeral thing can cut both ways. B. D.