NY_Dan
Well-known
Last Saturday I turned 21,075 days old -- the same age as my father when he died of a heart attack while riding a bus to the VA Hospital in Los Angeles. It was around 10:30 in the morning when he had the heart attack, which was severe, and he slumped over. His fellow passengers thought he was asleep or drunk, and waited a about 1/2 hour before alerting the driver. Later that day, I received a phone call from the hospital that he was dead. This was back in 1987.
Since then I've been somewhat haunted by the pictures in my head of my father's fatal bus trip. Father - son relationships, in fact any family relationship is full of stuff.
As a way of dealing with all this, and as a photographer, I had considered riding the same bus my father did, at the same age he was, and of photographing what he may have seen. However, since the bus he took was in Los Angeles, and I'm in NY, this idea was too costly.
So instead, I decided to take a bus trip and photograph myself going through what I imagined he may have gone through -- visually -- and then pair these photos with photos from one roll of black and white film of my father I had shot a few years before his death -- and then make a Blurb book.
Anyway, here's the result of my efforts:
http://www.blurb.com/books/5627245-death-bus-21075
The shots of my father were with a Nikon F2 I think, and the ones of me are from a D800. I "enhanced" the photos with Silver Efex Pro 2. I did this because I thought it helped the photo pairings.
I don't know how I feel about the results -- clearly I'm too close to the photos -- to put it mildly.
Therefore, I've included a poll -- if you have the time, please view the book and vote YES/NO/MAYBE -- YES meaning keep the book, NO meaning delete it (bad idea), and MAYBE meaning - not sure or it's too weird...
Not every idea or execution can be successful, but at least it can be a learning experience.
Since then I've been somewhat haunted by the pictures in my head of my father's fatal bus trip. Father - son relationships, in fact any family relationship is full of stuff.
As a way of dealing with all this, and as a photographer, I had considered riding the same bus my father did, at the same age he was, and of photographing what he may have seen. However, since the bus he took was in Los Angeles, and I'm in NY, this idea was too costly.
So instead, I decided to take a bus trip and photograph myself going through what I imagined he may have gone through -- visually -- and then pair these photos with photos from one roll of black and white film of my father I had shot a few years before his death -- and then make a Blurb book.
Anyway, here's the result of my efforts:
http://www.blurb.com/books/5627245-death-bus-21075
The shots of my father were with a Nikon F2 I think, and the ones of me are from a D800. I "enhanced" the photos with Silver Efex Pro 2. I did this because I thought it helped the photo pairings.
I don't know how I feel about the results -- clearly I'm too close to the photos -- to put it mildly.
Therefore, I've included a poll -- if you have the time, please view the book and vote YES/NO/MAYBE -- YES meaning keep the book, NO meaning delete it (bad idea), and MAYBE meaning - not sure or it's too weird...
Not every idea or execution can be successful, but at least it can be a learning experience.
farlymac
PF McFarland
Interesting, Dan. It's a tribute to your Dad, but yet also a cathartic release for you to sort of relive his final trip. I'm going with a Maybe on this.
PF
PF
one90guy
Well-known
Maybe here also and I can relate, I take the VA bus to Houston every few weeks. Next appointment I think I will carry a camera.
David
David
Bill Clark
Veteran
We're all riding on the bus of life and, someday, it will end. The span of each of our lives is but a brief moment in time. I like your theme, how it relates to your Dad, where he achieved his final destination.
Astronomers believe our Milky Way galaxy contains from 250 to 400 billion stars give or take a few. Large galaxies in our universe could contain at least 100 trillion stars. Where does that leave us?
Take a peek here:
http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com/galaxy.html
I don't know if "death" is a good title as most of us fear it. Maybe the photos show life up to the end for your Dad.
Your project is a good idea and I like how you incorporate photography with the theme. To me, it's really a celebration of life.
Thank-you for showing what must be an important and personal event with your family.
Astronomers believe our Milky Way galaxy contains from 250 to 400 billion stars give or take a few. Large galaxies in our universe could contain at least 100 trillion stars. Where does that leave us?
Take a peek here:
http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com/galaxy.html
I don't know if "death" is a good title as most of us fear it. Maybe the photos show life up to the end for your Dad.
Your project is a good idea and I like how you incorporate photography with the theme. To me, it's really a celebration of life.
Thank-you for showing what must be an important and personal event with your family.
michaelwj
----------------
Hi Dan,
Very nice collection of very moving images. I voted YES. The story comes through loud and strong from the images alone. Beautiful.
I'm in two minds about the length of the book; on one hand it seems to drag out for quite a while, on the other hand, I get the feeling that's exactly what you wanted me to feel.
Cheers,
Michael
Very nice collection of very moving images. I voted YES. The story comes through loud and strong from the images alone. Beautiful.
I'm in two minds about the length of the book; on one hand it seems to drag out for quite a while, on the other hand, I get the feeling that's exactly what you wanted me to feel.
Cheers,
Michael
Bob Michaels
nobody special
Dan: I could not read the text which I have to believe was very important.
There is no such thing as too weird, only people without enough imagination and tolerance.
I think the book was good because it really means something to you. That alone makes it worthwhile for you. However it did not do much for me as the gap between the photos of your dad and the modern day photos on the bus was just too large as I lacked that personal connection that you have.
There is no such thing as too weird, only people without enough imagination and tolerance.
I think the book was good because it really means something to you. That alone makes it worthwhile for you. However it did not do much for me as the gap between the photos of your dad and the modern day photos on the bus was just too large as I lacked that personal connection that you have.
sdotkling
Sent through the ether
Hi Dan: I'm a big fan of your stuff (and you asked for a critique, right?) so here it is: the concept is really powerful, but the execution isn't living up to it.. The re-creation shots feel miscast (that's you, I assume), because --unless the viewer knows you, as your father's son--I'm not getting the connection, visually. Why the hat? Why are the accompanying shots of your father hatless? What if you cast the recreation shots with someone who was closer in look to the shots of your father? And why did you do it at night? I'd feel more that the events were happening in the world if I could see out the windows.
leicapixie
Well-known
The book is interesting and gives pause for thought..
i doubt if it would change if one rode same bus in LA.
It's a journey both physical and spiritual.
My only hesitation is the clinical digital look of your work.
The photos are good.
i doubt if it would change if one rode same bus in LA.
It's a journey both physical and spiritual.
My only hesitation is the clinical digital look of your work.
The photos are good.
People might be more inclined to vote yes IF
the trip were called TRIBUTE TO MY FATHER
rather than DEATH BUS.
Stephen
bonatto
looking out
I like the dance. A nice effort, thanks for sharing the story with us.
Darshan
Well-known
"Maybe" from me.
I would prefer a more endearing title than the one chosen, the current title sounds horrific - does not go with the pleasant content of the book.
Your dad's photos are excellent - not surprised since you took them. I am sorry but can't really say the same about the bus photos. The night setting and auto metering on the D800 have given you a washed out look, composition is lacking too.
I admire your idea and execution.
Regards.
I would prefer a more endearing title than the one chosen, the current title sounds horrific - does not go with the pleasant content of the book.
Your dad's photos are excellent - not surprised since you took them. I am sorry but can't really say the same about the bus photos. The night setting and auto metering on the D800 have given you a washed out look, composition is lacking too.
I admire your idea and execution.
Regards.
pvdhaar
Peter
Only you can decide whether you should keep this. Maybe now is not a good moment to make that decision, after all you're now occupied with the loss and possibly not the best judge of what you've created. For sure, you shouldn't delete it at this very instant. Why not put it aside for a while and look at it in a year or so?
NeeZee
Well-known
That's what I thought, too.
I like the concept, but visually the old and modern photos are a bit too far apart to connect them as someone who's not involved. I find the idea to reshoot with a model resembling your father quite interesting but I also guess it might be too personal a project for you to do this.
Bobfrance
Over Exposed
It seems a good and valid concept to me (and not weird at all) but I am afraid I didn't really enjoy your execution of it.
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
i wouldn't call it like that, otherwise good!
hepcat
Former PH, USN
Dan, one of the things that is really cool about art is that it speaks to you, means something to you, and moves you in some way.
That this event is so vivid for you that you would be compelled to do this over twenty-five years after his death speaks to unfinished conversations. If this project helps you to complete those conversations, then it accomplishes all of the criteria I listed above, and is BRILLIANT.
As we all know, art can be provocative; meaningful to some, less to others... but that this piece provides a vehicle for conversation on death, the meaning of life, the way people respond to one another, and what constitutes "art" all tell you that this piece works. Some will like it, it'll make some folks uncomfortable, and some will think it weird... it's a much deeper and more weighty piece than many of the vacuous images I see every day. You don't need anyone's imput for validation on this one. As shown so far in this thread, it provokes those conversations.
Well done, Dan. Well done indeed.
That this event is so vivid for you that you would be compelled to do this over twenty-five years after his death speaks to unfinished conversations. If this project helps you to complete those conversations, then it accomplishes all of the criteria I listed above, and is BRILLIANT.
As we all know, art can be provocative; meaningful to some, less to others... but that this piece provides a vehicle for conversation on death, the meaning of life, the way people respond to one another, and what constitutes "art" all tell you that this piece works. Some will like it, it'll make some folks uncomfortable, and some will think it weird... it's a much deeper and more weighty piece than many of the vacuous images I see every day. You don't need anyone's imput for validation on this one. As shown so far in this thread, it provokes those conversations.
Well done, Dan. Well done indeed.
kbg32
neo-romanticist
Well done Dan, but I think it would be really powerful if you did go the extra step and actually rode the same bus, possibly included what your father might have actually saw, and what you feel he experienced. My two cents...
helen.HH
To Light & Love ...
Just had a look... Provocative Title ...I can mentally muse its a Great Concept
but Visually I'm not sure Title 'fits' perfectly with the photos
Love the Photos of your Dad
The bus ride photos did nothing for me, perhaps too staged or just not emotionally charged
I do very much like the way You Creatively think ... As for Voting, I will give it a Yes for Concept but needs more pull for the bus ride photos , Just my 2 cents
but Visually I'm not sure Title 'fits' perfectly with the photos
Love the Photos of your Dad
The bus ride photos did nothing for me, perhaps too staged or just not emotionally charged
I do very much like the way You Creatively think ... As for Voting, I will give it a Yes for Concept but needs more pull for the bus ride photos , Just my 2 cents
burancap
Veteran
MAYBE from me.
The story was powerful, the imagery not so much. Shorter, with fewer images, maybe text out the story through the book, with the sad ending -a bus with no stop.
In September 2013, I outlived my mother the same way. Though a milestone, I had nothing like this to offer myself -or anyone else. Stick with it.
The story was powerful, the imagery not so much. Shorter, with fewer images, maybe text out the story through the book, with the sad ending -a bus with no stop.
In September 2013, I outlived my mother the same way. Though a milestone, I had nothing like this to offer myself -or anyone else. Stick with it.
zauhar
Veteran
Exceptional portraits of your Dad, what a great face!
I am not sure the photos of you on the bus make compelling pairings, but it is a worthwhile experiment.
My sympathies that you lost your Dad in such a lousy scenario, I can tell from his face that he was a good guy (of course that doesn't mean your relationship wasn't 'complicated'). Must have been shocking and heartbreaking.
Randy
I am not sure the photos of you on the bus make compelling pairings, but it is a worthwhile experiment.
My sympathies that you lost your Dad in such a lousy scenario, I can tell from his face that he was a good guy (of course that doesn't mean your relationship wasn't 'complicated'). Must have been shocking and heartbreaking.
Randy