What to do with a photographer's life work...

Wayne · Jan 4, 2021

eli griggs said:
If you can get his work into digital format, I suggest you try to get an archive at the internet archive, but copy right his work first. Also other online free digital libraries, but you'll need captions, facts to go with as many images as possible.

Even if it's only given a date, location, equipment type, etc, it's better to have some indication of what is the image.

Good luck.

I wonder how long that would tale to do with a lifetime of work. I'm guessing...way too long.

Marco Buonocore · Jan 6, 2021

It's a lot of work to find a home for these sorts of archives. Negatives are - as odd as it may seem - not of interest to most places.

If you can get a grad student from a place like Ryerson University interested in the project, that might be your best bet. Trying to think positively about things, it could very well be a good time to solicit this sort of help. Many students in Ontario have time on their hands right now due to covid lockdowns.

Having digital examples of the work will help your cause.

removed account4 · Jan 6, 2021

Froeschli said:
I'm honestly stumped. My latr husband was a photographer. He started out documenting high voltage experiments for pioneer electric in the early 70ies and went on to shoot the royal Winnipeg ballet etc before entering photo journalism and doing all sorts of other things.
Now i am left with a collection of negatives and apparently noone interested in them.
I've contacted the canadian dance archive, but, meh, no reply.
Is it just all done and to be forgotten?
Anywhere that does collect old negatives like that?
Do i just toss them? I can't keep everything, but it seems such a waste...

my sincere condolences for your loss Froeschli.
Your question I think is on a lot of people's minds. Your local, regional and national archives might be able to offer you some advice on how to catalog and index the work. Sounds like wonderful fun for a free intern.
John

BradS · Jan 6, 2021

I too offer my sincere condolences for your loss.

All things considered, it might be better to just wait a bit, if you can, before doing anything.

eddie · Jan 6, 2021

I'm sorry for your loss.
Please do not dispose of them. They are irreplaceable. Even the ones you may think are mundane now, may prove to have historical value later.
In the meantime, if you could arrange an exhibit of his work in a local gallery, or library, I think it would be a fitting honor to a man who spent much of his life making photographs.

What to do with a photographer's life work...

Wayne

Marco Buonocore

removed account4

BradS

eddie

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