Death As Inspiration

[Noisegate]

So I was sitting hear listening to "Street Hassle" by Lou Reed which made me flash on David Bowie and his death back in 2016. I was crushed when he died. That said, a few days after his death, I was inspired to take picture of a rusty lock and I titled it "David Bowie is Dead." I am curious as to how others on this forum may have used photography to express themselves when faced with some type of loss. What is your story? Did a death inspire you?

 

[pentaxuser]

No I can't say it ever has in my case. It may be an unfortunate coincidence but I have just noticed that your thread now sits next to COVID-19 We need a touch of black humour in these difficult times

pentaxuser

 

[Noisegate]

I guess it is a bit morbid. Really wasn't my intent. That said, the greatest love song most likely didn't come from a happy heart so does this apply to photography? Just curious.

 

[Vaughn]

Perhaps "gallows humor" is a better terminology, which is not morbid, but more a recognition of the situation, and that it is better sometimes to laugh (or make art?) instead of to cry or to moan to make it through the task ahead.

But I am still working how to work on work 'inspired' by loss. For the time-being things are disappearing down a black hole...hope to fill it someday, then toss in some worms, and wait for them to work it down to something that will be good fertilizer...better than the usual bull manure, anyway.

Calder (1997 - 2017), 8x10 X-Ray Film (developed at hospital by techs), Pt/pd print or silver gelatin, can't remember which I photographed.

 

[Noisegate]

Oh, just as a footnote....the photo I took in response to Bowie's death was far from being "the greatest love song." I mention this as I realized someone might think I was implying grandeur was achieved in my own work. Sadly, "greatness" doesn't come to mind when people see my stuff....more like "what the hell is wrong with you" but I digress.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Nope.

 

[Noisegate]

Perhaps "gallows humor" is a better terminology, which is not morbid, but more a recognition of the situation, and that it is better sometimes to laugh (or make art?) instead of to cry or to moan to make it through the task ahead.

But I am still working how to work on work 'inspired' by loss. For the time-being things are disappearing down a black hole...hope to fill it someday, then toss in some worms, and wait for them to work it down to something that will be good fertilizer...better than the usual bull manure, anyway.

Calder (1997 - 2017), 8x10 X-Ray Film (developed at hospital by techs), Pt/pd print or silver gelatin, can't remember which I photographed.

Perhaps "Inspire" was a poor choice of words. Based on Calder's smile, the world ever so sadly lost a loving, kind soul and I'm sure many people did many things as a tribute to his young life.

 

[jtk]

I can't address "source of inspiration" because my photos are intentional...they're mine. Right now I'm trying to learn from Django Reinhart but my inspiration is me.

...I do have some ideas that might relate to Albert Watson...

 

[pentaxuser]

Perhaps "gallows humor" is a better terminology, which is not morbid, but more a recognition of the situation, and that it is better sometimes to laugh (or make art?) instead of to cry or to moan to make it through the task ahead.
.

Shouldn't that be "lethal injection humour" these days or is there still consumer choice that includes old-fashioned gas and electric

pentaxuser

 

[Rick A]

Perhaps "gallows humor" is a better terminology, which is not morbid, but more a recognition of the situation, and that it is better sometimes to laugh (or make art?) instead of to cry or to moan to make it through the task ahead.

But I am still working how to work on work 'inspired' by loss. For the time-being things are disappearing down a black hole...hope to fill it someday, then toss in some worms, and wait for them to work it down to something that will be good fertilizer...better than the usual bull manure, anyway.

Calder (1997 - 2017), 8x10 X-Ray Film (developed at hospital by techs), Pt/pd print or silver gelatin, can't remember which I photographed.

You know Vaughn, that's a black hole that could, and should, never be filled in. Find a decorative border of wonderful memories to surround it with though. That's something that I've never dealt with, and no one should ever have to. Peace brother.

 

[jtk]

Perhaps "gallows humor" is a better terminology, which is not morbid, but more a recognition of the situation, and that it is better sometimes to laugh (or make art?) instead of to cry or to moan to make it through the task ahead.

But I am still working how to work on work 'inspired' by loss. For the time-being things are disappearing down a black hole...hope to fill it someday, then toss in some worms, and wait for them to work it down to something that will be good fertilizer...better than the usual bull manure, anyway.

Calder (1997 - 2017), 8x10 X-Ray Film (developed at hospital by techs), Pt/pd print or silver gelatin, can't remember which I photographed.

Insightful.

 

[Vaughn]

Shouldn't that be "lethal injection humour" these days or is there still consumer choice that includes old-fashioned gas and electric pentaxuser

I was taking a First Aid course from the Red cross in San Diego back in the 80s. The instructor talked a little about gallows humor and as an example, told of walking around a San Diego neighborhood picking up body parts from a mid-air collision of a small plane and a passenger jet (that a friend of mine was on). Gallows humor was the only thing that got his crew through it.

 

[mohmad khatab]

I do not consider death an inspiration.
For me, it is a source of crying, wailing, pain and deep sorrow.
I lived through very sad days when Mr. Ron Maury died
.
I felt a lot of frustration and grief, perhaps more than I grieved my father.

 

[Vaughn]

One of my favorite Zen stories is about a wealthy man who commissioned a well-known calligraphy artist to write something to honor his house. The artist wrote, "Grandfather dies...father dies...son dies". His client was furious, "How could you right such an awful thing!" The artist quietly explained, "When it happens in this order, all is well and as it should be..."

 

[Ron789]

A friend of mine is continuously inspired by death, most of her work (books, exhibitions) is related to death. She now works on a project she calls "Memento mori", with 40 portraits of friends, eyes closed. She took my portrait and I took her portrait. I think I will turn it into this triptych. 4x5" Tachihara, lith prints on Fomatone 131, Moersch Easy Lith.

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