Re: The secrets of the dead

Photographer Jack Burman has created a new book entitled The Dead, which contains a collection of pictures of the dead. Actual preserved dead bodies. He says, "In the presence of the dead, I'm in the presence of a life that has completed itself in a way that I haven't, in a way that none of us has." The images remind us that the dead, which were handled by artists and scientists, are the ultimate vessels of humanity- that we who are alive and looking will one day become the thing at which we gaze.  Burman adds much to their presentation and admits that he sometimes works six inches from the corpse alone. He uses his pictures to relate stories and attempts to grasp life. For Burman, these images evoke the mysteries of life that photographs are able to contain.

I read the comments that were attached to the article, and a lot of people were saying that taking pictures like this was disrespectful to the dead and it takes away the persons dignity. I don't entirely disagree with this, but I'm more on the side of expressing yourself artistically and following what inspires you no matter what other people think about it. I think if Jack Burman was actually posing the dead bodies then it would really take away their dignity. However, he's just taking pictures of preserved dead bodies in their current state. Although I'm not to keen on looking at pictures of real dead bodies, I respect Jack Burman for doing what he loves and not letting other people stop him.