Stephanie Leigh Rose is certainly fascinated by death, for why in the world would she take all the trouble to pose in grotesque poses that a person can die in. And for the viewers, this is certainly no laughing matter. It actually makes us shudder to think of the possibilities of lying dead in any of the poses depicted in her ‘dying’ series. Is it any surprise that she goes by the name STEFDIES on Instagram!
If this is Rose’s way of documenting her travels and showing the wonderful sights she’s visiting, she’s not making a great many fans. And it shows on her Instagram account. But the originality of her thought is certainly laudable for it celebrates life in a way by making us aware that life is so precious and what a great thing it is to be alive.
Basically, Rose is an artist who uses photography as her tool to depict the only reality in life – death – in all its horror. She doesn’t use any special equipment, lighting or photography props. Says she, “I go about my normal day and if there happens to be a moment or a place, I happen to find particularly provoking, I’ll take a STEFDIES photo.”
Rose’s photographs are a stark reminder that someday we’ll all die and life is so precious. But we’d certainly not like to see ourselves washed up on the shore dead or lying lifeless on the pavement in distorted poses having fallen from a historical monument or in numerous other ways that she depicts in her ‘dying’ series.
By her own admission, Rose pushes herself to take these photos in the most uncomfortable of situations. It allows her to, as she puts it, “…participate in capturing a moment in time physically as well as mentally and emotionally.” And taking these shots is no cakewalk, says she, “I’ve to take myself out of my one head and get into the moment. Believe me, it’s really hard not to be present when you’re face down eating dirt and could be tempted at any time.”
STEFDIES
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