Taking photos of the dead?

I have a friend - and I have photographed every historic moment in his life - his wedding - his children's christenings - his childrens' weddings (a long time ago) - and he has said (as a joke?) that I am to photograph his funeral too. Don't know what will happen when the time comes - of course he may be at mine!
 
I had the unpleasant task of taking photos of a close friend's dead young son of about 4 weeks of age. Alive the baby demanour had deteriorated quite badly in terms of pallor and the huge array of tubes plugged into him. They already knew he had a week or two to live at most once his genetic condition was identified so they decided the best pictures would be when their son had finally passed away as the nurses etc could improve his features by removing the various medical instruments and reclothing the child into something more suitable.

However, the problem with this sort of photo is that you know the child is dead and there is something almost horrific about looking at the picture, suffice to say they eventually deleted the pictures from their 'digital photo display' and left the ones where he was still alive despite the condition of the child.

For me it had to be one of the most unpleasant experiences I had to undertake and really wouldnt want to do it again - but hey, friends are friends I guess so I couldnt turn them down at the time.
 
ScarySquirrel said:
That's really interesting to hear. When my father died, I had an opportunity to see him, albeit lying in his bed, having been 'made up', and before being put in his coffin. It was the hardest and most upsetting moment of my life, but I am glad I did it.

I won't go into any more detail as I'll probably get upset!! :(
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im the same as you, im glad i saw my grandad in the chapel of rest, it was hard as i was only about 12 at the time, but i felt it was important to say goodbye as it was all so sudden, i can still remember him the night before he died, full tux on, glass of whiskey in one hand, cigar in the other, laughing in my parents dining room. i tried to block everything out and it took me until this year to visit the grave and remember someone who had such a massive influence on me, prior to that id tried to block it out for the past 15 years.

as regard to photography at funerals and of people in the chapel of rest, its not for me and i certainly wouldnt want to take such pictures but each to their own and all that!
 
I'd feel quite odd taking pictures of the dead. As said here, it seems pointless! Why would you want to remember that?
 
Like I said before, its all down to the individual, how they deal with grief, and what they want to hold onto. My father-in-law died of cancer last year and we have photos taken of him a few weeks before he died. I can hardly look at them as he was in such a terrible state and thats not how I remember him. On the other hand, if you had an infant that tragically passes away at a very young age then maybe you would want something to remember he or she by.

This whole issue goes beyond right and wrong, it is all about the individual and how they respond emotionally, instinctively and psychologically to the death of a loved one. If they need to take photos to help them get through the turmoil or they need an artefact to remember then I say its okay.
 
subseasniper said:
Like I said before, its all down to the individual, how they deal with grief, and what they want to hold onto.
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It is also a cultural thing. We (generally) do not have 'open caskets' as they do in other countries. Perhaps if we were more used to seeing dead people we would think about it differently.

I know many Japanese take photographs of their dead relatives, as do other guests at funerals. Quite normal to show them to other people too.
 
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