In Memoriam

TheFlyingCamera

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Just this past week, I lost a very dear friend. He was only 33, and was stricken with bacterial pneumonia. I am producing several sets of prints to send to his family in Mexico.

Would it be acceptable to sign them at all? I'm thinking I would sign and label them on the back, if anywhere.

On a separate question, one of the photos I have is incredibly poignant. It was made as an accident - I goofed up the manual film advance on my Lomo Belair, and took three shots of the same scene where each frame overlaps a little. My friend is in two of the frames, and absent from the third. Do you think they would want a copy of this, or would it be too traumatic? I can barely stand to look at it without bursting into tears, myself.
 

Kino

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Maybe you should keep that last series of images for yourself; a personal tribute.

I can see no problem with labeling and signing on the back, but I wouldn't sign the front.

My 2 cents...
 

BrianShaw

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I would sign them, even on the front. And I’d send the center photo also.

Sorry that you lost your friend. Too soon and tragically.
 

Sirius Glass

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i am sorry to hear that you lost a dear friend.

Send the prints signed anyway you want.
 
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lensman_nh

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I lost my daughter last year. Receiving photographs from others shows that she had an impact of the lives of others, and was very loved.

Send them.

J.
 

Vaughn

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I am sorry about your loss of your friend.

I lean towards signing the prints on the front -- many of us are not going to be around for long...might be nice to have your name visible along with your friend many years from now.
 

jvo

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sorry you lost a dear friend...

and yes, i would send one of your pictures... i would crop out the overlap to avoid confusion... it is a remembrance from a friend and should be clearly that. a comfort to family knowing he was someone who was important to you.
 

cowanw

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I am sorry for the loss of your friend. I would do the photo series as above, it is honest, very poignant; there really is nothing you can do to spare the family their grief. It is good and healthy to grieve.
 

Rob Skeoch

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I think signing on the back would be great. I don't think I would send the third frame. Not everyone appreciates photography to the same level.
Sorry to hear about the passing of your friend.
-Rob
 

MartinCrabtree

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I believe they would appreciate anything from someone who valued their son's company and friendship. Of course sign them.

My condolences on your loss Scott.
 

Down Under

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I'm so sad at this news. I remember what you wrote in your own web site about this friend.

We can say life is a passage, time is fleeting, we are all transients. At my age (71), I'm preparing myself for what will likely happen in the next short period (I hope for more time and not less time, but we never know).

Thirty-three years is too young to have one's life cut short. It's such a loss.

Print the photos, sign them on the back. Me, I would hold on to those images of your friend, for now. Maybe in future the family will want them, in fact I'm sure they will.

You could make a large montage of the three images, mount it on one of your walls,and live with it for a while (time frame to be set by you). When you feel you are ready, make prints for others.

Consider also a small album of your best images of this young man. You can do work on this at leisure, over the next year or however long time you need, to lessen your grief.

I am doing this as an ongoing series of small albums with at most 24 images and a brief written introduction, Each album to honor a period in my life, a family member, a friend, or one of our beloved cats who have meant so much to us as a no-child family.
 
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removed account4

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Scott,
I am so sorry for your loss. I would send all the photographs and sign them at least on the back.
The family will be very happy to receive these photos, and your signature will mean a lot to them.
 

images39

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What utter tragedy... I'm so sorry for your loss of a good friend. I think your photos would have value for his family, and it would be appropriate to send them, signed in any way you see fit. These circumstances are truly humbling; we can lose those we hold dear at any time...

Dale
 
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