I Took Pictures Of My Friend Grieving A Lost Relationship

Two perspectives on images of grief.

The perspective of  the photographer Autumn Christine:

This photo series is focused on mental health, the first set of photos centered around male grief – a subject not often documented. The subject in these photos is a close friend & fellow photographer Steven Wieckowski, who is struggling with the end of a 7-year relationship.

Steven & I created the concept for this series during a discussion about his recent break-up & his feelings about it.

While it was a collaborative project, as the photographer, I felt intrusive & detached as I watched & listened to a friend share his hurt while I captured those moments on camera.

The main goal of this project is to break the stigma surrounding male emotion; breaking down the idea that expressing vulnerability & grief rather than anger & rage, is inherently feminine.

My goal, from the perspective of a woman, an empath, & the photographer, is to focus on the vulnerability; almost intrusively, on the facial expressions of a person who is grieving rather, than the body language of a person who still feels defensive.

The perspective of the subject Steven Wieckowski:

This photo series focuses on male grieving & vulnerability. For weeks, I have been struggling to come to terms with the end of a relationship. I shared with Autumn what I had been going through and told her about a photographer who dealt with his grief of a lost relationship through self-portraits. Autumn knew of another photographer who took self-portraits & selfies whenever she cried. The two ideas came together to form an exploration of male grieving.

These images focus on the healing & emotional growth that men can access by expression rather than repression. When men are depicted crying, it’s often due to a tragedy or trauma (think men in battle or men in the midst of some struggle). These images are of me in the midst of mourning a lost relationship. A woman who I loved. A connection that had been cut.

Then ultimately it is about a man creating the closure he needs simply through crying it out and letting it go.

Below are images captured by Autumn Christine; however, they are edited by both Autumn Christine & Steven Wieckowski to show the differences in perspectives- an outsider intruding & the griever.

Edited by: Autumn Christine – Photographer.

Edited by: Steven Wieckowski – Subject.

Edited by: Autumn Christine – Photographer.

Edited by: Steven Wieckowski – Subject.

Edited by: Autumn Christine – Photographer.

Edited by: Steven Wieckowski – Subject.

Edited by: Autumn Christine – Photographer.

Edited by: Steven Wieckowski – Subject.

Edited by: Autumn Christine – Photographer.

Edited by: Steven Wieckowski – Subject.

Edited by: Autumn Christine – Photographer.

Edited by: Steven Wieckowski – Subject.

Edited by: Autumn Christine – Photographer.

Edited by: Steven Wieckowski – Subject.

Understanding and expressing emotions can be universally challenging, whether it’s about dealing with a personal loss or simply experiencing the lighter side of life with animals. Just like how some people find solace in the unpredictable antics of animals, exploring emotional expressions offers a different kind of therapeutic experience.

If you’re intrigued by how animals often find themselves in bizarre situations, consider exploring more about how they bring unpredictability into our lives and how this could relate to emotional healing.

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