18 Comments
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Susanne Helmert's avatar

Wow! Such wonderful, moving words by Colin. Thank you for sharing!

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Tina Hedin's avatar

Great post and thanks for the introduction to Colin's work.

It makes me think about what it means to photograph grief. I am currently traveling the US, a year after my daughter's death. I find myself photographing vast skies or forests, or the ocean. Places where I feel connected to my daughter's spirit. Others might just see pictures of landscapes; to me they're pictures of my grief.

Love your newsletter.

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Andy Adams's avatar

Thanks for looking and for sharing, Tina. I'm sorry for your loss. It gives me hope to hear how photography is playing a part in your life now. Take care of yourself.

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Marquita Alcartado's avatar

Hello Colin:

Before I read your words I studied the image of your mother. I love the wave in her hair and how it leads the eye to her left shoulder and then to the right shoulder, forming the foundation of her lightly curved or angled posture. I can only imagine that she is standing in the way one might balance themselves in repose but ready for movement—or as a boxer? I see the feminine narrative, the universality of loss and grief in these gentle lines and in the soft altar of camellias. She has that attitude of still-standing surrender to love and beauty in all its forms, because it is this relinquishing that outlasts life’s impermanence. I’m sorry if I’ve said too much but I love the image and your words. There is so much here in this sweet portrait.

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colin pantall's avatar

Thank you so much for those kind words Marquita

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Jonny Nolan's avatar

Colin was my dissertation supervisor at uni. It was an incredible pleasure to speak with him throughout the academic year and since leaving my admiration for him and his work and mentality to it has only grown, this series is a testament to that.

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Andy Adams's avatar

Oh, that's great. Small world! Thanks for the note, Jonny.

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colin pantall's avatar

Thanks so much Jonny! Delighted to hear from you

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hw's avatar

The ability to capture loss is a profound one...grief and acceptance are both vying for attention in these poignant photos.

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Sarah Best's avatar

This is beautiful, thanks for sharing Colin’s words and images. There is so much texture in both photos of his mother.

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Andrew Glickman's avatar

Great post Andy. Really enjoyed the read about Colin and seeing the work (some of which I've seen before but having the post provides meaningful context for it).

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Koren Smith's avatar

This is incredibly beautiful. I love it

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Peter ciccariello's avatar

Beautiful photograph and commenary. Thanks.

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Nora Thompson's avatar

Thank you Andy for sharing Colin's work and his lovely words and photos of his mother. I love your newsletter, I'm not a photographer but find such inspiration in reading about the lives and works of your chosen artists.

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Andy Adams's avatar

Thank you for reading, Nora!

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Blake Andrews's avatar

You write that "for reasons I can’t explain, I have always loved rear-view portraits." This article may aid your understanding: https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-mysterious-appeal-art-depicts-figures. The Rückenfigur technique has a long and powerful history in the arts.

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Andy Adams's avatar

Thanks, Blake!

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Lorna Smart's avatar

So powerful.

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