A celebration of life

[karenoliver]

Originally Posted by Stormsong

Now, now children . . .

I like two the best.

Regards,
Denise

Thanks, Denise :-)

Karen

[karenoliver]

Originally Posted by Mike finchley

Excellent hours work karenoiiver. Ignore Abers and keep going , onward and upward.
Remember " dont feed the trolls"
regards mike

Thanks, Mike.

Well done on your potd btw,

Karen

[karenoliver]

Originally Posted by OldBoy

Well done Karen, a cracking series of shot. I'm sure they will be put to good use by the Hospice. To us outsiders it's a sad place, but you have shown it's full of life. The lady with the beaming smile says it all. Keep up the good work.

Thanks, Oldboy.

The patients were such an inspiration really. We all have a moan and groan , me included and yet they were so full of life and fun to be with. The staff are just as bubbly and I am sure humour and colour does make a difference to them all psychologically.

Karen

[ABERS]

Originally Posted by OldBoy

Sorry Abers, but I think you are OTT with this comment. You need to say sorry.

Yes I have been too hasty in my comment.

If the facts had been put before us in the original post I would have reacted differently. There was no indication of the purpose of the photographs. My assumption was that the pictures were taken to satisfy the photographer and that made me very very angry I'm afraid.

Having seen two old mates and a cousin pass away in our local hospice within the last two years, and only recently as two months ago a very dear friend being referred to one I apprecciate the wonderful work that they do.

I apologise to Karen for jumping to conclusions and reacting in the way that I did.

[OldBoy]

Thanks Abers.

[Mr Bump]

Karen, you are a lovely human being and I admire you hugely for overcoming your own personal difficulties to do whatever you can to help others. I have little doubt that your caring nature and photographic talents made you an easy choice for the fund raising team’s campaign. On this forum you and Polaroidsky stand out as particularly compassionate people who have absolutely no intention of exploiting those you photograph and I find it quite sad that you have both been subjected to unnecessarily cynical assumptions.

As regards your posted images, for me you have succeeded in all except No 6 which I find a little downbeat rather than what you might have intended. I particularly like the first four and look forward to seeing your results from Thursday.

I lost my lifelong best friend to cancer a year ago. He was always fun to be with and even in the hospice he continually laughed and joked with the staff and patients and, despite being in considerable pain himself, got them involved in all sorts of antics. In your photos I can see that same determination by patients to make the best of what they have. I hope the new campaign is a big success as hospices need all the help they can get in these difficult times.

Bump

[matt wilson]

I can see both viewpoints .

Qualified nurse 20 years experience ,mother ravaged by cancer.I was lucky to be able to nurse her at home .

Thankfully things got sorted but I do understand Abers initial reaction.

[pburness]

Originally Posted by matt wilson

I can see both viewpoints .

Qualified nurse 20 years experience ,mother ravaged by cancer.I was lucky to be able to nurse her at home .

Thankfully things got sorted but I do understand Abers initial reaction.

I think both viewpoints are valid and should be respected.
For many families touched by these dreadful circumstances the events are painful and require delicate handling; however, without the promotion of what the Hospices do and the subsequent donations to funding, the patients themselves would be much worse off.

Karen, I believe, has done a good job of demonstrating that hospices are not all gloom and doom and provide more than general healthcare and cater for all manner of wellbeing.

ABERS, in his own way, is also correct in making sure and checking the reasons for photographing such places are morally based and not just self gratifying or exploitation.

I noticed ABERS apologised for his assumptions (which in my opinion is right), but I think his intent was well founded.

Phil

[PolaroidSky]

Good to see someone finally saying sorry for acting awfully without not knowing all the facts.

Why is the first assumption always that photographs are being taken to be self gratifying or self serving?why not that people are really trying to do positive things, in their own time, for situations, causes and individuals they care about?

Is far too easy to judge to the negative... and what ever to being innocent until being proven guilty?... some of these forums lately have exhibited tabloid press levels of imposed, poorly researched imposed morality.

Given that were all photographers, all adult, all passionate, the name calling, character assassinations and back biting really needs to cease... or some people need to go get some anger management.

These forums should be a safe place to post without the need to bring a legal team in or to have to spend 3 hours typing all that's being done with shots, the intention and the hard work and effort that goes on behind the scenes or a blow by blow account of ones own personal and private journey and history to justify and explain the often very personal causations of shots and subjects being taken.

Bravo to you Karen. I, for one, did not and never would have needed to ask if your intentions were just... thats obvious to me... it's evident in the work, in the faces of the people involved and their participation in the first place.

[KeithT]

The thing with this kind of photography is that the images do not paint a thousand words in themselves. Some prior explanation is needed to set the mood, so that the viewer understands both the back story behind them and the reason for taking them. This is more of a courtesy than it is a need, especially if they are intended for public display, and because of the sensitive nature of the subject. Whilst Alan's original remark might be seen as rather acerbic, it may have actually upset him, if you consider his own circumstances. All of us have probably experienced friends or relatives who have suffered and died from this ghastly disease, and the closer we have been to it, the more emotive the subject becomes. I am certain Karen's reason for taking the images in the first place was totally honourable. I was taught that to ASSUME anything usually makes an A.S.S out of U and ME! Everyone has a reason to respond the way they do though, and I feel if we show respect to one and other for our differences, then hopefully we won't let it spoil an otherwise excellent forum. Oh, and please don't throw your rotten tomatoes at me for saying what I feel!