Secure the Shadow: Death and Photography in America

Rating:
Summary: Pictures Of Dead People
Review: Interesting picture book of dead people and funerals. In the mid to late 1800s, it was popular for people to take pictures of dead loved ones (almost like that person was still alive) as a rememberance of that person. No gore, or accident scenes.

This book explains why people did, and still do, take pictures of dead people and their funerals and use those pictures of those they love to mourn their loss.

Rating:
Summary: A book about traditoinal funeral customs
Review: It's unfathomable to me how a young mother could pose for hours in front of a camera holding her dead child. Equally disturbing is the image of one's mantle strewn with photographs of the dearly departed in all their slack-jawed, glaze-eyed post-mortal glory. Nevertheless, this was the custom during the turn of the century, a time when those who could not afford photography in life secured in death. Photographing the deceased was an integral part of the grieving process and, especially in the case of children, often the only proof one had of ever existing. The delicate antique photos reproduced in this book are disturbing, sad and lovely, in that order. Customs may have changed--I don't suppose many of us carry snapshots from our grandparent's graves--but reverence for the dead is still evident in more recent pictures of modern, frilly, floral funeral decorations. Secure the Shadow is a well-researched, stunning volume of great interest to social historians, the morbidly obsessed, and the just plain curious.

Rating:
Summary: A book about traditoinal funeral customs
Review: This book gives a historical record of the funeral and burial customs in the United States. Up to the first half of the 2oth century it was customary to take photographs of the deceased live ones.

Rating:
Summary: great book for those interested in memorial portraiture!
Review: this book not only provides information on post- mortem memorial photography,but early paintings as well.makes an excellent edition to sleeping beauty 1&2,as they do not cover paintings.take it from a long time hard core collector of this subject matter,sleeping beauty 1 and 2,and secure the shadow.great conceptual text as well.this is not only a book with pictures of dead people.all photos are blk&white,but there are a good number of realy fine ones.if you are interested in the subject or a collector,get it!

Rating:
Summary: great book for those interested in memorial portraiture!
Review: this book not only provides information on post- mortem memorial photography,but early paintings as well.makes an excellent edition to sleeping beauty 1&2,as they do not cover paintings.take it from a long time hard core collector of this subject matter,sleeping beauty 1 and 2,and secure the shadow.great conceptual text as well.this is not only a book with pictures of dead people.all photos are blk&white,but there are a good number of realy fine ones.if you are interested in the subject or a collector,get it!