Walter Schels suffered from a crippling fear of death, so he dealt with it by putting himself in its very midst -- by photographing dying people who were aware that their days were numbered, and were dealing with it in different ways. This may sound like a morbid idea, but the resulting project is actually extremely poignant as it offers a rare glimpse into the thoughts and feelings of people who know their days are numbered.
Schels approached individuals at hospices in Berlin and Hamburg. Interestingly, very few people approached by Schels declined to take part. Rather, many of them appreciated the opportunity to give their completely frank assessments of life and death. "It's so good you're doing this," said one subject. "No one else is listening to me, no one wants to hear or know what it's really like."
The portraits themselves are black-and-white and depict individuals of different ages, ethnic backgrounds and genders. They are accompanied by highly profound quotes by the individuals musing on their lives and their impending death.
Poignant Dead People Portraits
Walter Schels Captures the Views of People On the Verge of Dying
Trend Themes
1. Death Acceptance Therapy - Creating content or services that help individuals face death and come to terms with their mortality.
2. End-of-life Storytelling - Developing creative or therapeutic outlets for the terminally ill to share their final thoughts or leave behind a legacy.
3. Empathy-focused Media - Promoting media that encourages empathy, both for the dying and those who care for them.
Industry Implications
1. End-of-life Care - Exploring ways to improve the experience of death and dying in hospice and other care settings.
2. Funeral Services - Innovating products and services that help the bereaved grieve and celebrate the lives of their loved ones.
3. Media and Entertainment - Creating content that explores death, dying, and grief in empathetic and meaningful ways.