Experiments With My Father's Photographs
Going through my father’s possessions after his death, I found a collection of snapshots and negatives of him when he was in his 20’s. They were from either 1962 or ’63 and included photos he took while on vacation in Bermuda. I had never seen them before. There were ones of him on the beach, at a resort and even on a motor bike he used to get around the island. It was difficult to connect the handsome, seemingly carefree young man to my very reserved and buttoned up father.
I wanted to ask him about the trip. Who did he go with? What was it like riding the motorcycle? What happened to the crewneck sweatshirt? All of the questions that still go unanswered. The only clues I have to the person my father was, are encased in the four walls of the photographic print.
In an experiment, I decided to try combining my father’s images from Bermuda with my own, including some photos from our last vacation together in Rehoboth Beach. This work allowed me to both grieve his loss and celebrate his incredible life.
