This Man Took A Polaroid Every Day For 18 Years Until The Day He Died, And It’ll Break Your Heart
Jamie Livingston is sadly no longer with us, but his incredibly intimate photography project will ensure that he’ll never be forgotten.
The project began on March 31st 1979, when the native New Yorker (and then college student) took a single photograph. He then took a picture every day for the next 18 years, a tradition he maintained right until the day he died in 1997. Armed with a Polaroid SX-70, Livingston went about documenting every facet of his daily life, from friends, family and relationships, to his job as a filmmaker and photographer and the everyday happenings on the streets of New York.
The latter stages of his project became more introspective as he documented his battle with cancer following his diagnosis in 1997. We see the scar from his brain surgery, we see his hair fall out, and we see the engagement ring that he gave to his girlfriend just weeks before he passed away on October 25th 1997. Jamie left behind a project comprised of over 6,000 pictures, and in them he left a truly remarkable life portrait unlike any other.
See below for some of our favorite pictures from his incredible collection. They were uploaded to a website called “Jamie Livingston: some photos of that day” by Betsy Reid and Hugh Crawford, two friends of Jamie’s who promised to keep his project alive after his death. Be sure to check out the entire collection if you ever get the chance. Just keep a box of tissues handy.
More info: Jamie Livingston: Some photos of that day
June 15, 1979: Self-portrait of Jamie Livingston
March 31, 1979: First photo of the project. He eventually took over 6,000
May 27, 1979: Jamie was a student at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson
March 31, 1980: Many pictures were taken in New York. This one was taken on the subway
May 26, 1980: He also liked to take pictures of his friends
August 11, 1980:
June 13, 1981: As well as a film maker and photographer, Jamie was also a circus performer
December 6, 1980: There is no particular theme to his pictures. Some of them are abstract
June 1, 1981: Some are more thoughtful
July 26, 1981: And some are downright random
March 7, 1982: Early virtual reality?
April 11, 1982:
April 19, 1982:
July 18, 1982: He took a trip to Europe in the summer of 1982
July 22, 1982: This picture was taken in France
November 14, 1982:
January 1, 1983: New Year’s Day
January 21, 1983: This is Jamie at work. He was a cinematographer and music video editor back in the early days of MTV
April 3, 1984: By this time Jamie would have had over 1,500 pictures
May 5, 1984:
August 3, 1984:
May 8, 1985: Mirrors are a common theme in his photographs
June 27, 1985:
September 3, 1985:
March 13, 1986:
April 29, 1986: Jamie was a Mets fan. Here’s him buying tickets with a friend
August 9, 1986:
September 23, 1986: Some of his photographs feel incredibly intimate
December 12, 1986:
December 27, 1986:
March 30, 1988: He lays all out his photographs. By now he has thousands of them
June 7, 1988:
January 30, 1989:
July 2, 1989: As well as his many other talents, Jamie was also an accordion player
July 7, 1990:
December 7, 1990: Goofing around while shopping for Christmas trees
December 8, 1990: Somebody having a bright idea
March 5, 1991:
April 9, 1991: Baseball tickets
March 13, 1994: Although Jamie appears in many pictures, he’s rarely seen smiling
March 28, 1994
November 8, 1995:
January 2, 1996: Sometimes it’s not clear who exactly is behind the camera
June 26, 1996: The Twin Towers
December 5, 1996:
February 7, 1997: Star Wars, re-released in cinemas for its 20th anniversary
February 13, 1997: Passed out in bed
April 25, 1997:
May 2, 1997: Jamie’s health begins to deteriorate in May 1997. He is diagnosed with cancer
May 4, 1997: He has to have surgery, as seen by this scar on his head
May 8, 1997:
June 2, 1997: Self-portrait
June 24, 1997: Medication becomes a regular part of his life
July 19, 1997:
July 29, 1997: Jamie’s chemotherapy causes him to lose his hair
August 13, 1997:
August 20, 1997: Friends visit him in hospital
August 21, 1997:
September 11, 1997: His hair slowly starts to grow back
September 29, 1997: But Jamie is still seriously ill
October 5, 1997: He decides to propose to his girlfriend. You can see her in the background
October 7, 1997: Jamie and his wife on their wedding day
October 10, 1997:
October 20, 1997: Not long after his wedding, Jamie’s health gets worse
October 24, 1997: A friend plays music for him in the hospital
October 25, 1997: Jamie’s final picture. He died on his 41st birthday
It's the simple and silly. Pictures that draw you in.make you feel like you've known him and that makes the last few so tragic. I feel like I lost a friend. 💙
Yes i agree with you.....life is one so enjoy every moments of it
Load More Replies...Even though it is pretty normal for today, I felt like I was peeping on his private life. Maybe it is because those pictures, taken by polaroid machine, were meant to exist only one instance and not definitely for mass presentation like this. I couldnt help but feel disturbed.
Jamie allowed it, though. His friends had promised him to publicize the photos after his death, in his final days, so the project could be seen by the world.
Load More Replies...Those who learn to 'live' may not get to live long. Those who live long may not get to 'live' at all ...
sooo the boob is mature content but the penis tip is cool? am I the only one seeing this...
These shots remind me so much of my late wife Ursula, who passed away because of cancer on January 24th, 2004.
Such a beautiful testament of love, youth and joy. So touching. He must have been a wonderful person.
Thank you for having this essay -- and for NOT having ratings for each photo!
I like that he got married when he was sick. I did as well. I had Leukemia, and I credit my wife with saving my life. I wish he'd made it too. Much of the last few pictures strikes a chord with me.
Thought you might be interested in the book that is being made of this project: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hughcrawford/some-photos-of-that-day-book-jamie-livingstons-pol
And just think - he did all this before smartphones were around making 'selfies' so easy to take and keep. Imagine how many untold stories could be collected from our mobile phones?
Tomorrow is never a guarantee. Even if you have to try hard, then try hard. Life is fleeting.
These photos tell us to LIVE every moment with full contentment, make bridges not walls, spread love no hatred, one day u will go forever, only memories last so make them worthy!
I agree it makes you think...and I appreciate his sharing the beautiful moments of his life...
Such mundane photos of day to day life. You don't realize how much you got to know him until the last few photos. I saw the second to the last page stated there were 6 more photos...all the other pages said see 5 more...I knew these would be the last 6 pictures and I was physically upset. Anxious, teary. This is an amazing picture srtiry5that draws you in and makes care about a complete stranger.
I'm sitting here blubbering like I just lost a very dear friend - and before I opened this email I had no clue Jamie even had existed!! It was a very personal journey - and nearing the end, becoming almost too personal. Hard to believe it will be 20 years in October since this final pic.
Nope. Heart intact. Only that we couldn't get the film after Polaroid folded; how'd he?
Heartbreaking & beautiful. Tears in my eyes. Thanks for sharing such an intimate & personal perspective of a life cut short but well lived
Death Is Nothing At All By Henry Scott-Holland More Henry Scott-Holland Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am
I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before. How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again Source: http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/death-is-nothing-at-all-by-henry-scott-holland
Load More Replies...Last picture made me cry. I enjoyed every single photograph. Much love to the Artist. <3
My love died from cancer on her 62nd birthday, last year. It's actually a great day "to go at", regardless the sadness, sorrow and emptiness
Sorry for your loss. Can't imagine how it must feel to lose a partner :(
Load More Replies...18 Polaroid Years of Jamie Livingston's life and his world. Thank you for sharing your snapshots of your life.
He was a man of hard work and determination and that's all he ever needed
I'm emotional after reading and seeing this. Made me reviewed all that I've left behind. RIP Jamie.
This damn cancer. I hate this stuff. I lost my dog Úrsula (Boxer) 07 january this year(2017). The s**t started on november, and very fast, we lost her this month. Now a days I know that life is a blink!
I lost my heartmate 10 years ago this past Xmas. Cancer royally sucks. It gets easier, it's never truly gotten over.
Load More Replies...A man who lived life well, didn't take things too seriously, married for love and died with those who cared for him around. What's not to like?
I think this is beautiful, his life might have been shorter than others but the pictures show a life well lived and that's so much more important. RIP and thank you.
I believe in the next life and he's energy back again to start or finish his work
Very powerful makes you want to make every day count. Thank you for sharing such private moments x
I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope he put all his photos in to a book and published it, or that his wife did. She could make a good living off of his work. Maybe that is what he wanted her to do. May he rest in peace.
i feel the same way ...after seeing all these photos i feel like i know him like a very close friend .
i'm sad as his life was cut so short... RIP.. almost 20yrs ago. i was 37 at he time, i wish i could of known him
Utterly beautiful. Waves of happiness and sadness, maxima and minima of life.
This is utterly beautiful. Waves of happiness and sadness, maxima and minima of life. Rest in peace
Very intimate look at a life...amazing that he had the wherewithall to do this everyday! Sorry he left so soon...
Never realised people were taking photos of themselves in mirrors that long ago! Very poignant story, a glimpse into a private collection of memories
Beautiful! But we discuss for a minute why I can see part of his penis in one photograph but the photo of a breast is declared "Mature Content" and has to be clicked on to see?
It's the simple and silly. Pictures that draw you in.make you feel like you've known him and that makes the last few so tragic. I feel like I lost a friend. 💙
Yes i agree with you.....life is one so enjoy every moments of it
Load More Replies...Even though it is pretty normal for today, I felt like I was peeping on his private life. Maybe it is because those pictures, taken by polaroid machine, were meant to exist only one instance and not definitely for mass presentation like this. I couldnt help but feel disturbed.
Jamie allowed it, though. His friends had promised him to publicize the photos after his death, in his final days, so the project could be seen by the world.
Load More Replies...Those who learn to 'live' may not get to live long. Those who live long may not get to 'live' at all ...
sooo the boob is mature content but the penis tip is cool? am I the only one seeing this...
These shots remind me so much of my late wife Ursula, who passed away because of cancer on January 24th, 2004.
Such a beautiful testament of love, youth and joy. So touching. He must have been a wonderful person.
Thank you for having this essay -- and for NOT having ratings for each photo!
I like that he got married when he was sick. I did as well. I had Leukemia, and I credit my wife with saving my life. I wish he'd made it too. Much of the last few pictures strikes a chord with me.
Thought you might be interested in the book that is being made of this project: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hughcrawford/some-photos-of-that-day-book-jamie-livingstons-pol
And just think - he did all this before smartphones were around making 'selfies' so easy to take and keep. Imagine how many untold stories could be collected from our mobile phones?
Tomorrow is never a guarantee. Even if you have to try hard, then try hard. Life is fleeting.
These photos tell us to LIVE every moment with full contentment, make bridges not walls, spread love no hatred, one day u will go forever, only memories last so make them worthy!
I agree it makes you think...and I appreciate his sharing the beautiful moments of his life...
Such mundane photos of day to day life. You don't realize how much you got to know him until the last few photos. I saw the second to the last page stated there were 6 more photos...all the other pages said see 5 more...I knew these would be the last 6 pictures and I was physically upset. Anxious, teary. This is an amazing picture srtiry5that draws you in and makes care about a complete stranger.
I'm sitting here blubbering like I just lost a very dear friend - and before I opened this email I had no clue Jamie even had existed!! It was a very personal journey - and nearing the end, becoming almost too personal. Hard to believe it will be 20 years in October since this final pic.
Nope. Heart intact. Only that we couldn't get the film after Polaroid folded; how'd he?
Heartbreaking & beautiful. Tears in my eyes. Thanks for sharing such an intimate & personal perspective of a life cut short but well lived
Death Is Nothing At All By Henry Scott-Holland More Henry Scott-Holland Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am
I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before. How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again Source: http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/death-is-nothing-at-all-by-henry-scott-holland
Load More Replies...Last picture made me cry. I enjoyed every single photograph. Much love to the Artist. <3
My love died from cancer on her 62nd birthday, last year. It's actually a great day "to go at", regardless the sadness, sorrow and emptiness
Sorry for your loss. Can't imagine how it must feel to lose a partner :(
Load More Replies...18 Polaroid Years of Jamie Livingston's life and his world. Thank you for sharing your snapshots of your life.
He was a man of hard work and determination and that's all he ever needed
I'm emotional after reading and seeing this. Made me reviewed all that I've left behind. RIP Jamie.
This damn cancer. I hate this stuff. I lost my dog Úrsula (Boxer) 07 january this year(2017). The s**t started on november, and very fast, we lost her this month. Now a days I know that life is a blink!
I lost my heartmate 10 years ago this past Xmas. Cancer royally sucks. It gets easier, it's never truly gotten over.
Load More Replies...A man who lived life well, didn't take things too seriously, married for love and died with those who cared for him around. What's not to like?
I think this is beautiful, his life might have been shorter than others but the pictures show a life well lived and that's so much more important. RIP and thank you.
I believe in the next life and he's energy back again to start or finish his work
Very powerful makes you want to make every day count. Thank you for sharing such private moments x
I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope he put all his photos in to a book and published it, or that his wife did. She could make a good living off of his work. Maybe that is what he wanted her to do. May he rest in peace.
i feel the same way ...after seeing all these photos i feel like i know him like a very close friend .
i'm sad as his life was cut so short... RIP.. almost 20yrs ago. i was 37 at he time, i wish i could of known him
Utterly beautiful. Waves of happiness and sadness, maxima and minima of life.
This is utterly beautiful. Waves of happiness and sadness, maxima and minima of life. Rest in peace
Very intimate look at a life...amazing that he had the wherewithall to do this everyday! Sorry he left so soon...
Never realised people were taking photos of themselves in mirrors that long ago! Very poignant story, a glimpse into a private collection of memories
Beautiful! But we discuss for a minute why I can see part of his penis in one photograph but the photo of a breast is declared "Mature Content" and has to be clicked on to see?
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