Your Last Shot’ is your very last portrait. A serene and fearless portrait that will be taken of you now and that one day will be used to remember you by on your grave.
Why would you have someone else choose a picture for you that you would have detached yourself from?
Your ‘last portrait’ will be finished in porcelain, so that it actually can be used when the time has come. Meanwhile: have a great life. No one likes to think about their own death. And especially not about the photo they will be remembered by on their grave. Photographer Frieke Janssens wants to change people’s mindsets when it comes to that particular photo: ‘your last shot’. “In reality, those left behind need to find a photo quickly that is ‘ok’ and usually it requires some Photoshop retouching. And the question remains: how would the deceased feel about this photo? Maybe he or she would be detached from it ?”. The series of ‘Your Last Shot’ reflect a combination of the portrayed’s wishes and the photographer’s style. “My personal preference goes to static portraits as they were taken at the occasion of weddings at the beginning of the 20th century. My aim is to make an iconic portrait that is beautiful, serene and fearless, preferably with a gentle smile, indicating that the model is clearly aware of the fact that this portrait will be used in a very long time to come.” Sinister? “Not really, life and death are inevitably linked. In Belgium there still seems to be a taboo around the thought of death. As a photographer, I feel that the moment when one reflects about their own death is a precious moment to be shared and portrayed.” The portrayed will receive their ‘last portrait’ printed on porcelain, so that it actually can be used when the time has come. Which is hopefully many years from now. “In each series, I try to make people reflect on a specific subject. Should we care more about that one photo that will be used infinitely ? Would you not prefer to choose that photo yourself ? By the way, it strikes me that, when people visit someone’s grave, they like to take a walk through the entire cemetery.
And what do they do? Indeed, look at the pictures.”
‘Your Last Shot’ is a limited project.
Frieke Janssens (Bruges, 1980) Since the age of fifteen, Frieke, who is now in her early thirties, knew that photography would be her colourful way of expressing herself. Frieke works for big customers in advertising, but also for magazines and many cultural assignments. Frieke is now starting to focus more on personal projects. She has been a self-employed photographer since 2003 but has not abandoned the commercial sector . Frieke likes variation and focuses on any commission that comes her way. The game of working with a team is interchanged with projects that bear her signature. Her sources of inspiration are as diverse as they are varied. She likes to visualise a particular topic, and put her personal spin on it. Often with a surrealist touch and a humorous undertone. Experimenting is her thing. Her eye for detail is her pride.
REPRESENTATION
BRANSCH – www.bransch.net
