Life and Death

Although this post is a departure from my usual ramblings on politics it is important nevertheless and I felt compelled to share it. The subject matter is, you guessed it, life and death. This has significant meaning in my case as we recently lost a dear family friend – a kind and gentle soul – whose passing I’m still trying to come to terms with in my own way.

At the beginning of the month the Guardian ran a series of photographs (click image above to enlarge) by German photographer Walter Schels and his partner Beate Lakotta. The series involved photos of subjects both before and after death. What makes these photos even more haunting are the interviews Lakotta conducted with each subject prior to his/her passing. The reactions of those interviewed ranged from total acceptance to a desire to fight against the inevitable.

While some may consider the exercise morbid I found it a fascinating study into the human psyche. Reading the words of those who know their time in this world is about to end was something I’ll never forget. Some found comfort in their religious beliefs while others did not want to die. If nothing else this study serves to show us just how precious life is and how short our stay here is.

originally published 13 Apr 2008