Tuesday, August 18, 2009

( Collateral Damage ) images of those left behind by suicide

“Collateral Damage, Images of Those Left Behind by Suicide,” will be a book of portraits, website and gallery exhibition of people who have had loved ones die by suicide.  This is a project by a great guy who I met doing my cross Canada bike ride back in 2006.  Scott Chisholm is a fire fighter/paramedic in Thunder Bay, Ontario.  We met via email, then phone, prior to my ride… Then in person on the highway on my way into Thunder Bay… He did a lot for me even though he had his own projects going on at the time… He was always extremely busy with something… Now he has taken the time to do something else that is extremely important to him… He is an awesome photographer and an all round great guy… full of energy and life.  This new project of his is something he’s been thinking about for a long time…

Check out this video:

From Scott’s web site Collateral Damage…

“Collateral Damage: Images of Those Left Behind by Suicide,” will be a book of portraits, a website and gallery exhibition, telling the stories of people who have lost loved ones through suicide. When I was 16, my father took his own life. Although I have always been honest and open about how he died, I often felt I was left to deal with my pain and recovery in solitude - my grief paralyzed by the social stigma associated with such an act. Even now, 27 years later, I still have so many questions.

Through this book of images, I hope to find some answers and at the very least, start a long, overdue conversation.

I hope you take the time to check out the You Tube video and then check out Scott’s site… Help him out if you can…

Until next time…