Documentary - The Making Of A Suicide

[Rob Naylor]

Every picture tells a story...not all with happy endings.

#1

#2

#3

Memorials at "Suicide Point" at Beachy Head, East Sussex, UK.​

 

[Martin Stephens]

Some interesting stuff here. I'd like to be able to read one of those inscriptions. I like the 3rd one for the reason of comparing the cross to the tiny lighthouse below. I also think the flat light is less than ideal for this subject. For example, if the crosses cast a shadow..and so on. What an interesting place. The jump looks over 1000 feet. Do you know what it is?

 

[Paul Abbott]

Hey Rob, I prefer #3 over the others. It gives more impact and pretty much simply defines what these crosses mean. The opposite cliff face gives a good sense of the drop that is on offer here too...

 

[Rob Naylor]

Thanks for the comments.

Hi Martin,
Good spot regarding the flat light, I only get to this place once a year (while visiting my in-laws in the UK) and unfortunately this was an overcast day.

The vertical drop at its highest here is 531ft, plenty enough to guarantee a final conclusion.

I never thought to read the inscriptions, but with a close crop and a little sharpening, they can be made out...Quite sad reading.

#1
"Our hearts are full of sadness, and many tears still flow, what it meant to lose you, no one will ever know."

#2
"MICHEAL 23-03-05 I LOVE YOU SON"

Hi Paul,
The reason for the three images is that they are intended to be read as a series in the order shown here.
ie. the first cross appears leftside in the second image (note the yellow flowers), then the second cross appears leftside in the third image (red and white flowers).
In the final image all becomes clear with regard to why the crosses are there and what may have happened.

So my thoughts were...
Image 1 - Oh... a grave or cross and it seems to be in a strange location.
Image 2 - Hmmm... there's more than one of them.
Image 3 - Ah.. Now I get it, jeez what a way to go!!!

The two crosses are too far apart to get a reasonable single image depicting this, hence the series of three.

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Rob,

A very nice series. Thanks for the explanations and observations.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Martin Stephens]

Thanks Rob. All the more interesting.

 

[Jarmo Juntunen]

These pictures work fine on their own, without the written context. They are a silent testimony to a needless (and I think often selfish) final solution.

 

[Paul Abbott]

Hey Rob, there is a lot of suicides happening all along the north-east coast of England too, especially along the clifftop paths in Whitby. I've seen lots of markers with flowers and memento's, they're all attached to fences and posts along the edge...