Saturday, December 29, 2012

Family Photographs . . .

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Hi everyone ! See, haven't disappeared from here entirely, but as mentioned earlier, my new mistress Facebook is rather demanding. She keeps requiring gifts of time, and pearls, diamonds, chateaux, sailboats, etc.  So I am struggling to keep her happy. If you want to see what I mean, just open your FB account, I know you all secretly have one, and "Like" my page named oddly enough : "Owen Phillips Photography France".  
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I had to add "France" on the name because there is another photographer who you can find on Google named Owen Phillips in the UK, who does some great work. By strange coincidence he even has the same middle name as me. And is an acoustic guitar folk musician, also like me, if I could go so far to claim the title of musician. That is a fairly large assumption.
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Was able these past days to get out and wander in a few cemeteries. The two photos here are very recent, the first from Gentilly Cemetery, on the south edge of Paris, the second from Pantin Cemetery, the largest cemetery in all of France, just outside Paris to the northeast. A father and his son killed in World War One. A mother and her daughter who died far too young. Why post such images during the holidays ? Well, for me, they contain strong messages about loving those who are close to you, while you can. For time on Earth is often far shorter for many people than it should be. One never knows when one will have to go.
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Happy Holidays to all !  And I'm very sorry to do so, but I finally turned on the word verification on comments, just far too much spam coming in. Am tired of having to delete it all every time I open blogger. I hate Google's bloody word verification, half the time I can't even read the numbers and some of the letters. But the spam senders can't either, so they lose.  Cheers !
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13 comments:

Cindy said...

Hi Owen,
I love that they put photographs on the gravestones there. Great shots. I will check out your facebook page.
I have the same problem with word verification. My tiny blog doesn't get much spam, so I don't use it- but I undertand if you have to. If I can get through it, you will see this. I try twice- then give up...
Cindy

Steve said...

Love the reds and oranges in the bottom photograph...

Happy New Year, Owen, here's to there being many more.

Catherine said...

they are beautifully evocative aren't they.....will check out the FB page...Greetings from sunny Nice..

English Rider said...

Greetings from St Martins. The sugar finches have gone to roost for the night and we're recovering from the full moon party and "Burnfire" at Friars Beach. We had both of your beautiful photo books out to show friends before we travelled here. So happy to have those....

Anonymous said...

yes, if something is stronger than time itself, it is Family.

Please have you and yours a wonderful New Year ahead.

Lynne with an e said...

Ah the wind, the wind is blowing,
through these posts the wind is blowing...


http://youtu.be/x_223jKXKgQ

James said...

Hi Owen. Glad to hear from you and it's nice to see some of your excellent cemetery photography.

Regarding your question about my photo's location:
"Le quartier Saint-Merri est le 13e quartier administratif de Paris situé dans le 4e arrondissement. Il est constitué de la partie de l'arrondissement qui se trouve à l'ouest de la rue de Lobau et de la rue des Archives. Il est nommé en l'honneur de l'évêque Merry de Paris, moine et prélat au VIIe siècle, à qui l'église Saint-Merri est dédiée."

Happy New Year and I'll like you on FB next time I log on.

martinealison said...

Une jolie publication... qui me remplit d'émotions particulièrement cette année qui se termine tragiquement pour ma fille... Elle vient de perdre sa meilleure amie âgée seulement de 22 ans, tuée dans un accident de voiture par un chauffard ivre qui venait de prendre à contresens le périphérique après avoir refusé de s'arrêter à un contrôle de gendarmerie...
L'accompagner à sa dernière demeure la veille de Noël fut un sentiment très douloureux...

Continuez de nous enchanter...
Tous mes voeux de bonheur pour 2013 avec de gros bisous.

Owen said...

Thanks to all of you ! And Happy New Year in 2013...

Lynne, thanks for that, had not heard that one before...

ER ; very happy to hear the books are bringing pleasure, there are very few in circulation.

Martine, désolé, désolé d'entendre cela, c'est terrifiante comme histoire. On ne sait jamais quand l'hasard va envoyer un mauvais sort. Bon courage à toi et ta fille.

Lady Mondegreen's Secret Garden said...

I am not Facebooking so there. As if blogging isn't a commitment enough, and if I'm going to get saddled with a demanding Lover he will have to be flesh and blood (and shower me with real diamonds)! I was beginning to get loads of spam and discovered that by not allowing Anonymous comments (somewhere in Settings) I seem to have dealt with the problem. I haven't had any more spam and haven't had to turn on Word Verification yet.

Gwen Buchanan said...

You are a tempter Owen.. But facebook ... don't know if I ever can go back.. I contemplate it every now and then , but haven't figured how to use it so it doesn't drive me crazy.

Alyson | New England Living said...

I love these! I don't get depressed at cemeteries, I just love to imagine someone's story - who they loved, what were they passionate about, what world events they lived through. Wonderful capture! I love photos on graves.

Mimi said...

Interesting how they put up photos in the cemetery. And they have weathered very well.
I thought i was the only one who could barely make out google's verification!