My personal preference is that a photograph should speak for itself and not always need a description. I've had a real personal struggle today wondering if it is right to post this image and then wondered what, if anything to say about it. My concern is that I am so close to it I can't see that it may be perhaps not such a good idea. So, please indulge me and let me explain:

One year ago today my mother [Betty] passed away. This morning my wife and I visited the chapel of rest simply to check that the inscription I wanted had been entered correctly into the book of remembrance. This is that inscription. Nothing in my life has marked the passing of time or made me feel the effects of time as much as my mother's death - my link to history has gone. So this is a very personal image for me and showing it in such a public place pulls me in many different ways. If the consensus is that it is in poor taste to show it I will of course remove it. But if I need a defence let it be this - my mother loved all things artistic and I really don't think she would have disapproved of this.

The lighting on the image isn't great (two shades are caused by sunlight from a window streaming across the page) but I had to take it quickly when the chapel was empty so as not to offend or upset others who wanted to view the book too. Depth of field isn't wonderful, but in my view that adds to the feel. I suppose what I'm trying to convey is the idea - the execution of it isn't perfect yet.

I don't really want to start a whole debate here about the rights and wrongs of posting the image so happy to take those comments off-line at david AT potts DOT eclipse DOT co DOT uk [obviously you will have to edit that address so it works]. Critiques on the image itself are of course welcome here.