Hello everyone.
Today I wanted to talk about this photograph. My friend Kris threw a party last summer, and after the party I went through my photos and didn’t keep most of them because none were very interesting, except for this one. Something about this image tugged at me and told me to keep it, just in case I had some reason to reflect on it later. Well today’s that day. I recently learned that Hewsen, the man holding the watermelon, took his life just one month after the party.
I remember talking to him and thinking he was a really nice guy. All of Hewsen’s friends agreed this was one of the highlights of their summer. I look at this photograph now and I question how much a view of the surface can really show. Am I really seeing what’s going on inside?
I Personally believe that even though they don’t show the whole story, photographs are capable of showing some form of truth. Maybe not “The Truth” but some form of it, slightly different in each case where a photograph works. I like to believe that even if Hewsen was fighting some kind of psychological pain that he was still happy during the few moments we shared together. That the act of coming together had some kind of positive effect. Maybe nothing could’ve stopped him from taking his life, but I think we at least improved the time that we spent together.
I never knew Hewsen, this is all just my conjecture. But it’s still important to reflect on his life, and on this split second where Hewsen and his friend gave me their smiles.
When I was taking the photos during this party I wasn’t trying to be the “great hardworking photographer” I was just dicking around with my camera having fun. I look at his smile and I think there may be something to it. A fellow artist that’s been asked to be recorded himself. That he himself is worthy of being remembered. To stay one more moment in the future, because the present is so quick.
Hewsen was also a photographer. You should check out his instagram @Hewsen.photo. He was only 19 and I can confidently say he was ahead of his time for his age. His photos show technical skill, beauty, and emotion.
Dear Hewsen, I hardly knew you, but this letter is dedicated to you.
Thank you so much for your time.
-Jeremy