Photos of family and friends who have passed on.

[John Bragg]

So this week it all came home to me how very important it is to keep a photographic record of friends family and loved ones in general as my dear Mother passed away aged 91 years young. I had made a conscious effort to take informal relaxed portraits of her in the last years and that has now taken on new meaning as those pictures are even more prescious with her passing. I think we take less meaningful photos these days and we need to make more of an effort in general to make portraits of our family and friends. Nobody is forever and it is too late once those precious to us are gone.

My Mother at 90. She passed away 15/9/15. Loved by all and missed by her family and friends. by John Bragg, on Flickr

 

[FrankS]

Yes. As the photographer in a family, we have a responsibility to document.

 

[FrankS]

And another

 

[Timmyjoe]

We live near my wife's family and early on I would bring a camera to family gatherings. To record the events, but also in a way to help me "fit in" and interact (conversation starter) with a large group of people I didn't really know.

When my wife's uncle, whom she was very close to, passed away suddenly I was really glad to have recent pictures of him to share with her grieving family.

 

[Andrea Taurisano]

Sorry for your loss, John.

I so much agree with you. We may try to elevate photography to an art form or make a living out of it, but what you describe is what photography is first of all. A way to remember those who've meant most to us.

Here is a shot of mine on the same line, the story of which you may read here.

 

[nikon_sam]

This is a photo of our son with his grandma (my mother) it was taken in August 2012...this was after he graduated from college and had spent a month vacationing in Europe...
My mom passed away in July 2014 just 12 days shy of her 84th birthday...
We really didn't notice the decline in her health until after my brother passed in 2013...
She was never that comfortable having her picture taken...most likely did it because it was with her grandson...

 

[John Bragg]

This is a photo of our son with his grandma (my mother) it was taken in August 2012...this was after he graduated from college and had spent a month vacationing in Europe...
My mom passed away in July 2014 just 12 days shy of her 84th birthday...
We really didn't notice the decline in her health until after my brother passed in 2013...
She was never that comfortable having her picture taken...most likely did it because it was with her grandson...

Charming photo Sam and one to treasure.

 

[John Bragg]

Sorry for your loss, John.

I so much agree with you. We may try to elevate photography to an art form or make a living out of it, but what you describe is what photography is first of all. A way to remember those who've meant most to us.

Here is a shot of mine on the same line, the story of which you may read here.

Great work Andrea.

 

[John Bragg]

We live near my wife's family and early on I would bring a camera to family gatherings. To record the events, but also in a way to help me "fit in" and interact (conversation starter) with a large group of people I didn't really know.

When my wife's uncle, whom she was very close to, passed away suddenly I was really glad to have recent pictures of him to share with her grieving family.

My sentiments entirely Timmyjoe.

 

[John Bragg]

Yes. As the photographer in a family, we have a responsibility to document.

Indeed we do Frank.

 

[nikon_sam]

Yes. As the photographer in a family, we have a responsibility to document.

I agree, too...
I also feel that while doing this most of us don't always see it as documenting...more like doing what we enjoy...
Most photographs gain value the more they age...