Something Worth Photographing

Recently while updating my 365 project on facebook I was finally forced to work on the photos I took over the summer at my Uncles funeral. My Uncle Robin was a Vietnam Vet and therefore given a full military funeral. My family approached me with the idea of photographing the military service. Of course I couldn't say no, even though I knew it would be difficult. Robin was very proud of his service and a very patriotic person. Here the military was honoring that, that is something worth photographing. After returning from the funeral in West Virginia I sat down to edit the photos. I couldn't do it. I ended up sitting at my desk staring at my computer crying. It was to recent, I couldn't deal with it. Now two months later I've finally edited the photos.

The man in the maroon shirt on the right is Cameron Harding. He's a first year med student and was with my Uncle while they were working on the flood relief for the church in KY. When Robin collasped from a heart attack Cameron tried CPR. He tried for a half hour before the EMT's got there.

I don't normally like the whole one color while the rest is black and white because I feel that it is over used. But for this photo I felt it added rather than subtracted.

All I can say to other photographers is that this was the most difficult thing I have ever photographed. I know in our field we have to sometimes photograph difficult things. Especially if you're on breaking news. And I imagine doing breaking news would be terrible if it involved a death, I've heard other photographers and reporters talk about that. But when its a loved ones funeral it's not just difficult, it's painful. But even though it was painful for me I'm glad I had this experience. It was a lesson in how to photograph a funeral without being obvious and rude. And now my family has these photos of Robin being honored. Which in the end is worth it, even if it did cost me a few extra tears.