For her personal photo project when attending the eWorkshop I taught earlier this year, Angeline Muñoz found courage to face a trauma that had hit her family severely the year before. As she wrote on her blog her «daughter’s marriage was crumbling, and the man, who had promised ten years before to love her always, snapped and set fire to their home. The shell of the house remained intact; the interior was utter devastation». While contemplating what kind of theme she should pick for her personal photo project, she just one morning woke up knowing she had to go back to that house and make this her essay. The house was then being torn apart to begin reconstruction – and with some initial hesitation Angeline started to document the state of the house and the work being done. It was a very emotional encounter for Angeline and I can only say I was very impressed with her courage to face her own demons from that traumatic experience. It became a very personal project indeed, and not only was the result outstanding and very touching, but I think it even somewhat appeased Angeline’s own thoughts of that dark day last year. Her images of the house being demolished are soft spoken, but very intense. In all the sadness behind every photo, there is still beauty in the way she captured – and processed – the photo essay, which only enhances the sense of a tragedy behind the literal subject of those photos. Her images touch the viewer with their honesty and the way they directly speak to viewers. They speak of discernment and sincerity as well as of courage.
In Flow with Otto 
This is very sad. More I could say on the husband but…. The woman is very courageous to do this. Best wishes for the family’s future.
Thanks for the comment, John.
It takes a lot of courage and strength to overcome things like this. I’m glad she had both.
Angeline surely had.
That was most likely the best medicine she could have taken. Well done.
Thanks for commenting.
Angeline’s images speak volumes, I feel for her and hope her photography helps her to heal.
The latter she can only say something about, but I totally agree about the photos speaking volumes. Thank you Elisa.
An inspiring story, and person. Thank you for introducing both her, and and her work.
I am very please to be able to do so, even if the photo essay itself is a sad one.
Thanks Otto for sharing Angelina’s work. Have courage Angelina.
🙂
I have been following both of your blogs for a few years…This was / is such a courageous series. I hold fondness for this and for Angeline’s blog. This touched me so deeply on many levels but esp. in the realm of courage. Thank you both!!! Loretta
Thank you for a lovely comment, Loretta.
powerful visual narrative…thanks for sharing.
And thanks for checking out the work.
Courageous and a sign that the healing is taking place. The welcome mat photo is poignant.
It’s a strong opening picture to the essay, indeed.
Thank you Otto. And to everyone, The family is moving ahead, we all circled the wagons and have helped each other in the healing process. Going back to that house multiple times to take photos was indeed therapeutic for me.
Thank you for both doing the photo project and showing it to us, Angeline. It’s so well done – besides the therapeutic side of it.
i am so sorry to read about the tragedy, as long ago i experienced my own scary moments. we’ve heard, ‘what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger,’ though sometimes we’re a bit too close to that reality.
hoo-ray that angeline found the courage to return and stare those horrid memories eye to eye and say, ‘i’m not going to let you win..’
the phoenix flies – no, she soars! z
I think that old saying is correct, but when in the middle of it one doesn’t feel like be able to come out on the other side, does one!? Thanks for a lovely feedback, Lisa.
Though he burned the wooden house
Her heart was torn within
flames engulfed and ruin the shelter
He life was burned scattered as ashes
She did not only clean the site
But she tried to wipe out those traces
Hatred washed away with love
Cruelty with patience
Rising spirits never face defeats
It is only contemporary ..if you block their feet
They jump hurdles of pain and torture
Regain strength with self respect together
Learn from her , how to live your life
When it ends, it is time to restart.
That is quite a comment. So beautiful and full of wisdom.
thank you 🙂 Your article was inspiring.
I hope this was a cathartic experience. So often we can be removed from the actual and so these shots are all the more powerful for the closeness Angeline had to the setting. Wonderful, sad shots. Thank you for posting them.
And thank you for looking up the images and sharing your thoughts, Chris.
An honour.
Not only did it take a lot of courage to return, but these are beautiful shots despite the mixed feelings that Angeline must have experienced. I really like the idea of a photo essay. The series of photos says much more than the words alone ever could.
I so agree with you, Mary, but then this is a very strong photo essay.
Sorry to hear this tragic story, Thank you both, love, nia
Thank you for you compassion, Nia.
Angeline is very brave to have tackled such a personal story; often, it is so much easier to focus on happy photos, smiling faces, beautiful landscapes and bright colours… Mind you, they too have their place in a world where the media skims from one disaster, one war, one crisis to another, and we get overloaded by all the negative, depressing and disturbing images. But looking at this photo essay, and reading the story behind it, really touches the heart. May it bring profound healing to Angeline and her family.
I agree with everything you say. Thank you for the compassionate comment, Reggie.
I so admire Angeline’s courage. The photo essay is heart rending.
It is, ins’t it.
What extraordinary courage – her photos are testament to her bravery in confronting her demons. Thanks for sharing this story. It is illuminating
And thank you for your lovely feedback, Suzanne.
These images are saturated with expression. My very best to Angeline.
Thank you for your comment, Elena.
Excellent images to illuminate a very courageous story…well done, Angeline. And I’m very pleased to hear the family is moving ahead…
Thank you for your compassion, Susan.
Wow, Otto, that is absolutely amazing. Imagine having the courage to go back and do that. The image of the Welcome mat says it all. Prayers for Angeline.
Thank you, Nancy, and yes, you are right it’s amazing.
I’m amazed at the courage people have. We all have stories inside, but to share them with everyone takes even more courage. Great post and the images really do tell a story.
Thanks for the lovely feedback, Laura.
you’re welcome 🙂
This post made a deep impact on me. Angelina turned this tragic moment into a great photo story. All the best,
Dina
It is indeed a very strong story. Thank you, Dina.
How sad, and how brave.
Indeed.
Wow… How sad… The pictures speak for themselves…
They do, don’t they!
Incredibly touching.
Indeed it is.
The beauty and poignancy captured by Angeline in these stunning shots are both heartbreaking and so full of hope in the courage of return.
Great way to put it, Patti. Thank you so much.
Le foto raccontano a chi le guarda, quanto grande è stata la tragedia vissuta da Angeline, e trasmettono tantissima tristezza. Veramente coraggiosa a tornare sul luogo per documentare lo scempio della casa, coraggiosa e nello stesso tempo molto brava, perché le foto non hanno bisogno di commento, parlano da sole!!!! Molto toccante. Un caro saluto per Angeline e per te.
Patrizia
Sono molto d’accordo con voi. E ‘stato molto coraggioso di Angeline. Grazie per i vostri pensieri compassionevoli, Patrizia
Having watched Angeline struggle with the emotional demons as well as the photographic technicalities that loomed during this project, I’m impressed by this great photo essay. The images are cohesive and gently tell a ghastly story that rings with irony and dashed dreams: the welcome mat, the toys, the motorcycle… Out of the ashes the phoenix will rise.
You are so right about the pictures, they are cohesive, gentle combined with irony and smothered dreams. Thank you for the thoughtful comment, Linda.
To engage in a project like this on a personal tragedy requires great courage. But it also provides the images with a whole different dimesion and strength of expression. I was very touched by these photos…
The strongest expression in art always comes from a strong personal engagement with the subject – whether it’s happiness or tragedy as in this case. Thanks for your comment, Truels.
Angeline’s photo essay shows that the creative can be a coping mechanism for such life events. Her use of monochrome helps the viewer focus even more on the details of the drama. To be able to share such an experience demonstrates her resilience and strength under the stress of such experiences.
Well said, Sally. Angeline’s photo essay does indeed demonstrate her resilience and strength. Thank you for the thoughtful comment.
The pictures show her strength for capturing such memory while most of us want to record happy moments and hoping them to last. The pictures have deeper impact to her than any viewers… Great work and thumbs up to her.
Thanks for the lovely feedback!
The images speak for themselves – great courage and talent! I wish Angeline and her family some brighter days.
Thank you for your compassion, Paula.
It is really amazing! To have the strength to capture these images is very remarkable. I wish her all the the best. Thank you for sharing her images and story.
And thank you for checking them out and commenting, Mark.
I see the compassion for the horror and loss her family endured. This was a most difficult situation to revisit hopefully she will begin the deep healing needed for her life.
I think you are quite right about it. Thanks for you compassionate comment.
These are strong images and are enhanced further by the background context you have provided. A moving post.
It is indeed a moving photo essay.
A wonderful series of images, and a VERY courageous woman.
Thank you for sharing here, Otto.
And thank you, Lisa, for the nice words, Lisa.
These images are eloquent testimony to the power and appropriateness of monochrome imagery.
You are very right about that, Bill. I totally agree with you.
A powerful photo essay.
What happened to the son in-law? Was he convicted of arson? What was his excuse for burning down the house?
I don’t know the answers to these questions, but the whole story makes you wonder, doesn’t it.
Incredibly fascinating images…the story makes them even more powerful and tragic. Tough but incredible shots, and the B&W creates contrast not only with the shots but with emotions as well.
Yes, I agree these are fascinating images.
I give her a lot of credit. I hope she got healing from documenting her experience. There’s definitely beauty in the disaster, and hopefully that will be true for Angeline too.
There certainly is beauty in the disaster – which I hope and believe you are right in that Angeline will see, too. Thanks for your comment, Linda.
very, very powerful images. the photographer harnessed beauty from ashes.
Well, said, Colleen.
So sad. How can some people be so cruel? I feel for her. Thanks Angeline, may God continue to give you strength.
Thanks for your compassionate thoughts, Phillip.
A very courageous woman indeed and such powerful, emotional images. I think there must be something very cathartic about returning to a disaster scene such as this…kind of like facing your demons.
Oh, I think very much that is the case. It’s takes courage and commitment indeed. Thanks for you comment, Susan.
The third photo in absolutely blows me away. A powerful photographic essay of a tragic event. It’s raw, and I appreciate Angeline’s willingness to share that.
And thank you for sharing your thoughts, Elen.
Powerful and honest. Thanks to both of you for sharing this inspiring work.
Thank you, Uday, for showing the respect for the work.
This project must have been very cathartic for Angeline. I’m sure that it did give her some closure.
She left us with a sad but lovely documentation of her story.
I very much agree with you. Thank you, Michelle.
Your narrative was as compelling as the photos, Otto…a stirring tribute to the photographer’s strength and resilience. My compliments to both of you.
Thank you – on behalf of both of us.
That first photo with the welcome mat is particularly ironic, under the circumstances in which it was taken. A very brave act by Angeline to undertake this project. All the best to her for the future.
It is a brave act indeed. Thanks for your comment, Andrew.