Laia Abril- The Epilogue

This book centers around the sad story of the Robinson family after losing their 26 year old daughter to bulimia. The photographer deeply explores the grief experienced by family. She does this by using flashbacks. These flashbacks can be seen in different ways. Abril uses photos of letters, key objects, places, testimonies told by different family members and friends. These especially, were full of deep grief as well as other emotions such as regret, guilt, frustration, distress, sadness all emotions that can be found with a sudden loss of a loved one. This book is very much a book of loss but also a book of awareness. It is letting people know this mental condition is a very real and it is a dangerous one not just affecting Cammy Robinson but many young women around the world.

Abril explores Cammy Robinson’s story in a very sensitive but confident way, using her documentation techniques to help her do this. She does not hesitate to tackle the real issue. This can be seen with the photo of the weights placed over a two page spread. This photo alone is very saddening and when surrounded by the narrative very powerful. The use of photos before and after her death is also very effective. The sequencing and framing of these have been very cleverly placed to make sure the audience get the full impact of the story being told. Some photos are so simple however they carry so much meaning and significance. The narrative is so powerful it carries and improves the rest of the book. There are multiple inserts from Cammy Robinson’s life that have been cleverly been placed throughout the book.

The Epilogue is a beautiful, upsetting but also very powerful book. It’s a clear example of a photographer having a difficult story to tell and then having them tell it in the best possible way. The book is clever, interesting and thought provoking. It is a great piece of documentary photography tackling a real issue.

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