Photography for the terminal illness

kl122002 · Sep 10, 2023

One of my best friend has very late breast cancer. She is young (34) and not married, parents are gone and so she is a very tough and worked hardly for her life. After diagnosed, She has tried everything she could but the disease is progressing quick. Mastectomy has done to her right breast and now it is not good to her left breast and her body either. She has decided not for any more surgery and just go for comfort way. And so now she asked me if I could do a photo work for her . Of course, I would do it for free.

I would do B&W on film. Not just only her daily put in record, but also she wants her left breast tumor on the film ( To be frank, I can see 1 or 2 coin-like black mark on side of the breast already) , and so I am think UV photography as well , do you think it would work ?

Has anyone been in this area?

jamesaz · Sep 10, 2023

I recently saw something similar taken by a friend. The subject’s tumor appeared as a sort of dimple. If your friends shows somewhat like that, I would try to use lighting rather than resorting to more complicated techniques. Good luck to your friend and good luck on your project.

koraks · Sep 10, 2023

jamesaz said:
I would try to use lighting rather than resorting to more complicated techniques

Yeah. Maybe augmented with some fairly normal filtration, such as a few frames with a red filter if there's a clear color contrast going on.

I find it hard to think in technical terms about this case given the human/emotional aspect of it. This makes me realize that questions about film and lighting would probably pretty far down on my list when planning photography on this 'project'. The conceptual side takes precedence, here.

What will the images convey, and to whom? How will they connect the likely short term horizon of your friend's existence to a future audience (however limited)?

And more pressingly, at this point: how does the process of creating these images help your friend cope with her situation? What does this imply for how you proceed with this and the technical choices you make?

For instance, you plan on using b&w film, but if you were to shoot this on digital, the immediate feedback offers the opportunity to make your friend part of the process by instantly evaluating the results and planning for the next frame. It would make the project much more a collaborative effort, which I feel might be a crucial consideration here.

In any case, it's great you're trying to do something for and with your friend. I imagine it's a very poignant experience and I wish you lots of luck in carrying your part of the emotional burden that comes with this 'job'. And of course I wish for your friend the most comfortable and rewarding final days imaginable.

Vetus · Sep 10, 2023

It saddened me to read your post, remember to photograph your friends emotions, especially her smile on her good days.

Daniela · Sep 10, 2023

@koraks' reply is so eloquent and well-rounded that the only thing I'd add in terms of considerations is that this whole experience will be about meaning making. Follow her lead, try your best to honor what she wants and keep in mind that the process of creating these images deserves as much care as the final images. Whichever film/equipment/etc that you use should be there to serve to serve her vision, not to interfere or make things more complicated. I'd personally keep it to a minimum and choose one camera, one film and lots of flexibility in terms of lighting, composition, etc.
I wish you and your friend the best, and I hope this experience provides her with the comfort she's looking for.

Richard Man · Sep 10, 2023

I wish the best outcome for your friend.

In 2017 I documented my friend prior to her surgery to remove metastasized cells. The diagnosis was good afterward, but sadly, she died 14 months later. I put the project into a book, right before she passed, with her handwritten poetry. Here's a link to download the PDF file

https://richardman.photo/Portfolio/IV-06 Small Size.pdf

kl122002 · Sep 10, 2023

koraks said:
Yeah. Maybe augmented with some fairly normal filtration, such as a few frames with a red filter if there's a clear color contrast going on.

I find it hard to think in technical terms about this case given the human/emotional aspect of it. This makes me realize that questions about film and lighting would probably pretty far down on my list when planning photography on this 'project'. The conceptual side takes precedence, here.

What will the images convey, and to whom? How will they connect the likely short term horizon of your friend's existence to a future audience (however limited)?

And more pressingly, at this point: how does the process of creating these images help your friend cope with her situation? What does this imply for how you proceed with this and the technical choices you make?

For instance, you plan on using b&w film, but if you were to shoot this on digital, the immediate feedback offers the opportunity to make your friend part of the process by instantly evaluating the results and planning for the next frame. It would make the project much more a collaborative effort, which I feel might be a crucial consideration here.

In any case, it's great you're trying to do something for and with your friend. I imagine it's a very poignant experience and I wish you lots of luck in carrying your part of the emotional burden that comes with this 'job'. And of course I wish for your friend the most comfortable and rewarding final days imaginable.

Vetus said:
It saddened me to read your post, remember to photograph your friends emotions, especially her smile on her good days.

That's her idea. She has almost nothing much left now and she does not want to become a name + number + an identity photo on paper that proves she once existed. She wishes a set of photos that is about her, from documentary to artistically record herself. And She insisted most images should be on film as she wants them physically, since she worries that digital pictures that might have lost future in the severs because of frozen account or hacked.

Those cancer drugs has taken her weight and we all very sadden by her condition. And that's the reason I plan to use B&W. For B&W I can do the process and printing within a day or two, I hope that could catch up ?

Other friends are also coming to help as well, but honestly I have never felt so much responsibility on this project.

Daniela · Sep 10, 2023

Richard Man said:
I wish the best outcome for your friend.

In 2017 I documented my friend prior to her surgery to remove metastasized cells. The diagnosis was good afterward, but sadly, she died 14 months later. I put the project into a book, right before she passed, with her handwritten poetry. Here's a link to download the PDF file

https://richardman.photo/Portfolio/IV-06 Small Size.pdf

So incredibly touching. Wonderful work.

Helge · Sep 10, 2023

kl122002 said:
One of my best friend has very late breast cancer. She is young (34) and not married, parents are gone and so she is a very tough and worked hardly for her life. After diagnosed, She has tried everything she could but the disease is progressing quick. Mastectomy has done to her right breast and now it is not good to her left breast and her body either. She has decided not for any more surgery and just go for comfort way. And so now she asked me if I could do a photo work for her . Of course, I would do it for free.

I would do B&W on film. Not just only her daily put in record, but also she wants her left breast tumor on the film ( To be frank, I can see 1 or 2 coin-like black mark on side of the breast already) , and so I am think UV photography as well , do you think it would work ?

Has anyone been in this area?

I’d think IR filtering with strong flash would be more “suitable” to bring out blood vessels just under the skin.
But it all depends on what you want to achieve in those photos: A semi-medical look with some added emphasis on the tumor.
Or if you want to capture the whole person.

koraks · Sep 10, 2023

Richard Man said:
I wish the best outcome for your friend.

In 2017 I documented my friend prior to her surgery to remove metastasized cells. The diagnosis was good afterward, but sadly, she died 14 months later. I put the project into a book, right before she passed, with her handwritten poetry. Here's a link to download the PDF file

https://richardman.photo/Portfolio/IV-06 Small Size.pdf

That's beautiful, Richard. And bleak, too, but beautiful, nonetheless.

kl122002 said:
For B&W I can do the process and printing within a day or two, I hope that could catch up ?

It's your call - by which I mean, I only intended to raise the questions, in the knowledge that I cannot answer them. I think what I mostly wanted to convey, is the importance of asking these questions, and then answering them together with her. So don't ask me - ask her. Including other assumptions, as well, such as the choice for B&W.

kl122002 said:
I have never felt so much responsibility on this project.

I understand. The fact that you take this responsibility upon yourself is probably one of the most important decisions, and one that I'm sure your friend and everyone in her vicinity will appreciate.

BrianShaw · Sep 10, 2023

Been there; done that. And other times, wished I had but didn’t.

My suggestion is to not overthink the situation and focus on great lasting images of her remaining beauty and dignity. Act quickly so you have time to re-shoot as appropriate. It’s quite likely that when that “perfect image” is recorded… you’ll know “that’s the one” when you release the shutter.

In my experiences, I shot no more than 12 images (one roll of 120) to achieve the goal. Keep it simple!

Good luck to both of you.

Photography for the terminal illness

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Photography for the terminal illness

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