Thursday, November 17, 2011

Photo of the Day

Who can remember each day of their life for 18 years? Perhaps none of us can, but somebody could, well that's if he was still alive.

I am talking about Jamie Livingston (October 25, 1956 - October 25, 1997), who was a New York-based photographer, film-maker and circus performer. Between March 31, 1979 and October 25, 1997, the day of his death, he took a single picture nearly every day with a  Polaroid SX-70camera.

Jamie Livingston self portrait (source)
After Livingston’s death, his friends Hugh Crawford and Betsy Reid put together a public exhibit and website using the photos and called it PHOTO OF THE DAY: 1979-1997, 6,697 Polaroids, dated in sequence.

March 30th, 1991- his collection of photos inside suitcases
The physical exhibit opened in 2007 at the Bertelsmann Campus Center at Bard College (where Livingston started the series, as a student, way back when). The exhibit included rephotographs of every Polaroid and took up a 7 x 120 foot space, apparently the pictures that are just dates aren’t Polaroids — they’re placeholders for days when there was no photo, or the photo was lost.

I find this story amazing, how a single human being can record a life of 18th years to perhaps share it with the world, but life and God had other plans for him, so now, more than 10 years after his death we are here, still able to watch her every day for 18th via his own view of it.

If you would like to visit his website please click here.  I must advice you that this is not a sophisticated, modern looking site; full of links and gadget, there, you will only find a list by year and each one with a photo he took- but even this simplicity of website, to me each photo symbolizes a little piece of his soul that once walked on this earth and the way he saw his own life.
Jamie Livingston, RIP (Oct 25, 1959- Oct 25, 1997)

4 commented; now it's your turn!:

God's Little People said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

That is seriously committed to photography! - but what a fun life project and what a great way to be able to remember each day. I always thought this would be a fun thing for a child/baby to have an image for each day of their life since the day the get born - that'd be kinda cool. I've been amazed at how much blogging has helped me remember days - it's actually a really great way to keep a visual journal and I wish I had more time each day to keep up.

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I'd never heard of Mr. Livingston, but you have to admire the guy for taking all those photos in hopes someone would do something with them one day. I looked through several years. It seems like he just photographed willy nilly - everything and everything...neat post! ...debbie

Anna E said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

It´s quite amazing in its own way, and tells not only a story of his life but also of the different epoques (clothes style etc.). Photos are a great way of remembering and re-catching good moments. Still sometimes it leaves me with a sad note, because it can cause me to think of "the good old days" rather than "the good now and future", and cause a sometimes emotional longing for old times to come back..

Joey Y said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

This is inspiring! I'm thinking if I could do the same for so many years! Thanks for sharing Sunshine :)

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