This was a very challenging photoshoot, set in a real home, using volunteers as patients. The nurses and doctors were real, and went through everything exactly as they would with a real patient at the end of their life, in their own home with loved ones.  It was humbling to watch, and I preferred not to direct my subjects, but rather just quietly observe and photograph them as if photographing wildlife, letting scenes unfold naturally while waiting for poignant moments that I could capture.  

 

The brief was complicated and included a long list of must-haves, meaning there was much to be covered within my final set of images.  Some images had to look as if taken at night, yet the sun was shining through the bedroom windows - so we taped up black bin bags, which turned out of little help. I was exhausted by the end of the day, as much from the emotional aspect as the many technical challenges I'd faced. Then followed several days of Photoshopping to ensure no faces of patients were recognisable nor were there any other identifying parts of the images - yet Hospiscare logos on bags and clothes etc had to be clear.  

 

Here is the final booklet and below is a gallery of more photographs from the day. 

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