POST

James Rudy Muckelvene

Wednesday October 12th, 2011

While browsing through our photographers’ Twitter pages to see what they were up to, I stumbled upon something interesting. It was a link to the personal photo project of our photographer JaTawny M Chatmon, documenting her father’s tragic battle with prostate cancer. I was glued to the photo essay, entitled simply James Rudy Muckelvene—it seemed so real, touching and heartfelt and was so similar to experience I’d had with with my father-in-law. The photos both moved me and left me wanting more, so I contacted JaTawny to learn more about these very personal photos. Our subsequent interview and some of the photos are below.

- Maria Luci

How would you describe this photo essay?
One word sums it up for me…heartbreaking. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.

What moved you to document your father’s journey?
My father inspired me to document his battle. We talked about it and he wanted me to document his story. He wanted his story told. It was a decision we made together to document his journey.

What did you hope to achieve by documenting this time in your family’s life?

We believed he would beat Prostate Cancer and have the images to look back on to tell his story. Suddenly when his Prostate Cancer turned into a more aggressive, rare form (Sarcomatoid Carcinoma of the Prostate) my goal switched to proving doctors wrong through my lens. I would take photos of us helping him walk which doctors thought he wouldn’t or shouldn’t be able to do or even attempt to do with the condition his bones were in.

Did you find it difficult at times to photograph or easier to face the situation behind the camera?
It varied from day to day. If it was a day where he was walking or I was taking him out for a scenic ride and taking a photo of him looking off into the sky it felt good. The pictures for us were “proof” that there was NO WAY that someone with tumors on just about every part of their bones and a collapsed spine was doing things they shouldn’t be able to do. Proof that he was going to win. On days where he was in pain… it was hard. I would say it’s harder for me to look back at the photos now than it was to take them. It was very difficult to release his story to the public. Our hopes are that men take prostate screening very seriously & doctors stop downplaying the damage it causes to the man and his family. Before my father passed, our family started a Non Profit to help bring awareness to prostate cancer, Warriors Fighting For His Cure.

What has the response been from the photos?
All positive. Everyone is moved/touched by the photos. Most people describe the images as “beautiful.”

Did you learn anything through this process?
I learned that we don’t have much time and should not procrastinate on our dreams. Even while battling for his life my Dad was teaching me lessons. He once said to me “You know, the way you are calling all of these doctors for me and trying your best to get an appointment, you should work that hard for your business. Call the clients you want to work just as hard to get an appointment with them to see your work.” This experience taught me not to give up. I watched my father battle everyday for his life and he never gave up until his last day when he told my mom “I have to go home.” We have no excuse not to go after what we want.