David Brown

Beloved

I first became interested in in my project topic after a group I was traveling with happened upon a rural cemetery.  It seemed extremely well-kept for such a remote location, with an eclectic assortment of colorful and ornate tombstones, memorials, and simple markers.  Plots were covered in flowers, stones in various patterns, flags and medallions, and small ceramic figurines.  Effort went into these publicly held private conversations with the dead, rooted in a mixture of tradition and personalization.  I decided to dive a bit deeper when I got home.

The months preceding my trip had been filled with unexpected loss.  Several childhood friends and a nephew died.  I observed other exchanges with departed friends and family and thought about my own conversations with the dead.  Was I remembering them the way they would have hoped.  How would I be remembered?

The things that are left when others pay a visit to those who have passed on.  These artifacts symbolize a deeply personal and thoughtful ritual that speaks to the connection between we the living and our dearly departed friends and family … and perhaps something more.

About

Dave Brown is a free-lance photographer based in Dover, MA.  A native of Newburyport, MA, he has lived and traveled the globe courtesy of military service and a technology consulting career.  This has afforded Dave the opportunity to photograph a variety of people and places.  

Dave runs a veteran-owned business that uses digital and drone technology.  He photographs landscapes, gatherings, celebrations, and sporting events.  Through his work Dave seeks connections that will draw the viewer in, combining an interesting subject with the changes offered by varying illumination patterns, settings, and compositions.

Dave is self-taught and continues to evolve his craft through his assignments and encounters.