Whether or not we are ready to say goodbye, there comes a time in which we must part with our loved ones. And every person on earth moves through the process of mourning in a way that is unique to them. Photographer Sean Scheidt uses his lens as a means to move on as he captures the moments shared among his family in the final years of his grandfather’s life for his project Time Spent.
I was simply attempting to document the time I spent with my grandparents. I had no intention to share or show these images in any real way, I just wanted to preserve moments.
While most individuals seek to capture important family moments on camera, these images typically circulate during happier times and holidays spent together. Sean’s family photos took on new meaning six years ago when his Uncle Steve passed away unexpectedly. Suddenly his images had a greater significance, as they spoke to a time when his family came together to mourn and celebrate the life of one of their own.
As our family was grappling with devastating loss, my collection of intimate moments came to be a powerful testament of our loss, pain, and most significantly our love.
From that point onwards, Sean sought to capture each memory — both happy and sad — that was shared among his family. Because the project didn’t have strict parameters, he allowed himself the freedom to shoot anything and everything that had meaning to him and his loved ones.
As we witnessed the birth of great-grandkids, my parents becoming grandparents, health issues and eventually the loss of my grandfather, I sought to tell those stories.
Sean traveled to familiar places for this series, both to his father’s house and his grandparents’ house, a space of great nostalgia. He credits the home as the center of his family, as he always had Sunday dinners at their house and even lived there for some time in high school. As an adult, he returned often to take his grandparents out for a night on the town.
The locations were simply where we spent time together.
When Sean’s grandfather became sick, he stepped forward as a caretaker and supported his grandmother through the process of losing her husband. His images became a resource for his family to remember his grandfather, who loved having his picture taken.
My camera came with me to hospitals, appointments, and all the small moments in between.
Sean’s grandfather was a natural storyteller, and the series became an extension of the memories he shared with his grandson. As a fashion and portrait photographer, Sean was unfamiliar with this photojournalist approach but felt he knew the subject intimately that he could tell their story authentically.
When my grandfather started having health issues and eventually passed away is when they really “got it”. They now have this record, this narrative of their lives.
As our loved ones pass, we try to remember details of their essence that cannot be carried through images. At his grandfather’s funeral, Sean requested alone time with the casket before the burial. He spent 30 minutes capturing small details — like his grandfather’s folded hands — that he will now remember for a lifetime.
It meant a great deal to me as it meant that they understood the importance of the project and its importance to me. My dad remarked that my grandfather would have wanted it.
Sean thanks his family for their support throughout the process, which he knows wasn’t always easy at some of the harder times. He took pains to be discreet at his grandfather’s funeral while still ensuring he photographed what he needed to for him to process this loss.
While the project is not complete, Sean has taken a step back from photographing his family after the loss of his grandfather. As he shares memories with his children, who will never know his grandparents, he hopes these images mark the legacy of his family for generations to come.
I hope they will be able to vicariously experience some of the joy I’ve felt in their presence and can see the abundance of love.
Photographer: Sean Scheidt