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I Took Pictures Of My Friend Grieving A Lost Relationship
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I Took Pictures Of My Friend Grieving A Lost Relationship

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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.

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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.

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Edited by: Steven Wieckowski – Subject.

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Edited by: Autumn Christine – Photographer.

Edited by: Steven Wieckowski – Subject.

Edited by: Autumn Christine – Photographer.

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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.

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Edited by: Autumn Christine – Photographer.

Edited by: Steven Wieckowski – Subject.

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Autumn Christine

Autumn Christine

Author, Community member

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Detroit Photographer looking to expand my skill and get my name out there. @autumnchristine.photography on Instagram

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Autumn Christine

Autumn Christine

Author, Community member

Detroit Photographer looking to expand my skill and get my name out there. @autumnchristine.photography on Instagram

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claudia_hutagalung avatar
Claudia Hutagalung
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is very brave of Steve for sharing his raw low expressions. Thanks to both of you for making and sharing this. I'm currently struggling with some terrible feelings and I felt somehow better after seeing that there's at least one other person who is struggling. I hope things get better soon for Steve

bluebellforawhile avatar
Bluebell Rizzi
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes I worry I'm soulless, but these pictures made me tearful

saranicole avatar
Sara Nicole
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The message here is very powerful .. this photos can really transmit a very sad feeling . . and beyond that, is a very good work .. people usually have a big taboo about male emotions .. but this a great expression . Congrats to this work.

huihuit avatar
Hui Huit
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"The main goal of this project is to break the stigma surrounding male emotion..." LOL. You would find an excuse to everything...Come on. It's just voyeurism + exhibitionism. Lack of decency at best. Plus, this is not Art. Pictures are *very* average. Hello ! this is Bored Panda, a place where people come to fight boredom at work, between browsing funny pics and checking private emails... Such a sorrow should remain private and not land on such a site... I bet this poor man regrets all this now...

amshep1968 avatar
Amanda Shepherd
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ive been here, the photos reminded me of the pain. Please feel better soon......it will pass

ilikepie22334 avatar
John Smith
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Autumn thinks this is deep. But really it's just exploitive liberal nonsense. Steven would have been better off with a jukebox and a bar--than being the puppet in Autumn's 'deep' photo project. Yes, men cry, too. Also in news: water is wet.

auto5678 avatar
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In what world was he a 'puppet'. This was just as much his idea as it was mine, I was the the photographer. I didn't sit him down and tell him to cry so I could make this project. We collaborated, wrote this together, and published it together. In no way was exploiting him. This whole series is about how people deal with grief. Maybe you like to get hammered at a bar and listen to music, but not every person grieves like that.

Load More Replies...
tgeer123 avatar
auto5678 avatar
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think you missed the whole point of the project, but it's nice to see you're still hanging on to that toxic masculinity 👏👏

Load More Replies...
claudia_hutagalung avatar
Claudia Hutagalung
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is very brave of Steve for sharing his raw low expressions. Thanks to both of you for making and sharing this. I'm currently struggling with some terrible feelings and I felt somehow better after seeing that there's at least one other person who is struggling. I hope things get better soon for Steve

bluebellforawhile avatar
Bluebell Rizzi
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes I worry I'm soulless, but these pictures made me tearful

saranicole avatar
Sara Nicole
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The message here is very powerful .. this photos can really transmit a very sad feeling . . and beyond that, is a very good work .. people usually have a big taboo about male emotions .. but this a great expression . Congrats to this work.

huihuit avatar
Hui Huit
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"The main goal of this project is to break the stigma surrounding male emotion..." LOL. You would find an excuse to everything...Come on. It's just voyeurism + exhibitionism. Lack of decency at best. Plus, this is not Art. Pictures are *very* average. Hello ! this is Bored Panda, a place where people come to fight boredom at work, between browsing funny pics and checking private emails... Such a sorrow should remain private and not land on such a site... I bet this poor man regrets all this now...

amshep1968 avatar
Amanda Shepherd
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ive been here, the photos reminded me of the pain. Please feel better soon......it will pass

ilikepie22334 avatar
John Smith
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Autumn thinks this is deep. But really it's just exploitive liberal nonsense. Steven would have been better off with a jukebox and a bar--than being the puppet in Autumn's 'deep' photo project. Yes, men cry, too. Also in news: water is wet.

auto5678 avatar
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In what world was he a 'puppet'. This was just as much his idea as it was mine, I was the the photographer. I didn't sit him down and tell him to cry so I could make this project. We collaborated, wrote this together, and published it together. In no way was exploiting him. This whole series is about how people deal with grief. Maybe you like to get hammered at a bar and listen to music, but not every person grieves like that.

Load More Replies...
tgeer123 avatar
auto5678 avatar
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think you missed the whole point of the project, but it's nice to see you're still hanging on to that toxic masculinity 👏👏

Load More Replies...
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