These two sets of photographs and stories show that the context of a photographic story can be very different from another.
W Eugene Smith set out to document the life of the American GP Dr Ceriani for LIFE Magazine, entitled the “Country Doctor”. The process took 23 days to complete. W Eugene Smith spent some time initially with no film in his camera in order to get Dr Ceriani and his patients used to the camera’s presence. The photographs document the day to day life of a GP, and whilst they are intended to be objective, there is also some empathy between the doctor and photographer. For example the photograph of Dr Ceriani carrying an old man from the ward to the operating theatre shows that he is a caring doctor who will do as much as he can for his patients.
Bryony Campbell, in her Dad Project, set out to document the illness and subsequent death of her father. In the process of doing this, she explored the relationship with her father, and of her relationship with her mother during this period. The project was very personal, and on occasions she questioned whether she should be recording specific scenes.
Her initial intention was for the project to be personal, not intended for others to see it, but after a while, she created photo book, and exhibited the images. The project was also published in various magazines and newspapers. This, it turned out, was part of the healing process for Campbell.
Two photographic stories, but each with different purposes, and outcomes. W Eugene Smith’s story took just 23 days to complete, an objective story of a rural GP in America, but Bryony, on the other hand, because of the nature of the subject matter, would have had no idea how long she would be working on the project. I was moved by the text linked to Campbell’s images, her thoughts and anxieties laid bare.
Campbell’s words: this is a story of an ending without an ending, seem to me to that although her father’s life has ended, he will never be forgotten because she made this photo story. He will continue to live on in peoples minds as long as the photographs exist.
Context and Narrative 