photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Deems Burton | profile | all galleries >> Indiana >> Josiah Preston Halstead tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Josiah Preston Halstead

Josiah (1957-1982)
Josiah was my friend in my youth. He had incredible depth and personality within himself, showed an exuberance of enthusiasm in his daily life, and he glimpsed a rare understanding of my own peculiar life. Rarely are we rewarded with such a soul, artist, muse, mentor, human spirit, or friend to share our days, memories, questions, and daily life. Josiah's life was tragically cut short in youth, but his memories, friendship, spirtual gifts, and inspiration live within everyone that has been touched by him. Josiah is one of the few great human spirits that walked the Earth, and I knew him as my friend.

Many of these photos were put together by Jim "Bear" Robertson, me, and Craig Lamb in 2000 to share with Josiah's Mom and family. After Joe left us, we were left with only memories, and our photos. These Josiah photos are a treasure worth sharing.
previous pagepages 1 2 3 4 ALL next page
Josiah's Bender 4x5 Camera
Josiah's Bender 4x5 Camera		 Josiah in the Chrysler Bldg Lobby 405
Josiah in the Chrysler Bldg Lobby 405
previous pagepages 1 2 3 4 ALL next page

comment | share
Richard Halstead 09-Jan-2015 00:19
Deems, that storm at sheep mountain is amazing. Can't imagine how you got that.

On the proof sheet in Josiah's photos I can tell you that the girl with him in #5 and #6 is Rena Wigoda and the other fellow was a truck driver who gave them a ride when they were hitch-hiking. It's obviously an early form of the "selfie". #4 was an image that he obviously posed for and took of himself. I know the photographers he admired at that time and the feeling he was trying to get. We talked a lot about it and I can tell you that he deliberately positioned that bicycle and created a slightly unsettling feeling with the pose, the clothes, the facial expression and the composition. I know he was interested in Grant Wood's "American Gothic" painting of the farmer and his wife (Art Institute of Chicago) which has a similar feeling.
Guest 27-May-2013 04:10
I am with John Halstead, Josiah's oldest brother. What a testimony
to Josiah's life and his zest for life. Thank you for this. It enables me to share in a more real way some of the grief and
loss that John feels now and the rest of his life.

Thank you Deems Burton.
Ann Stephenson-moe
The Third Side03-Nov-2009 13:03
Nice gallery and tribute, Deems.
Mike Raso 17-Feb-2009 21:01
Josiah was a friend of mine at Jeff and if memory serves, we were in a yearbook photo together (Physics, Junior Year). I heard somewhere he left us under tragic circumstances. I remember him fondly. I believe I also remember Craig Lamb- trumpet player?

Mike Raso
Chris Griffin 17-Aug-2008 04:10
Wow!!!! I am Josiah's second cousin and just returned today from our Halstead Family farm meeting. I stopped by to see his mom, my Great Aunt Marge, on the way home and I had the family and Josiah on my mind. I happened to google his name tonight and I found this. What a great memoir. He was so full of life, what a loss, I miss him dearly.
Jim Robertson 02-Jan-2007 04:49
Hey Deems, It's Jim.
Picture #3 "? and Josiah is Dave Rhoades. Photo taken at Snider Basin in wyoming. Dave is the guy I went to New Zealand with.

Picture #4, 5 & ^ are at Mesa Falls on the targhee (near Island Park/Ashton, Idaho).

Picture #6 left is Lonnie Adams (my friend from Texas). and Right is Dave Krohn (from Michigan). Lonnie & I worked with Dave Krohn in Idaho & Wyoming
Terri Steele13-Dec-2006 20:59
Wonderful memorial gallery Deems. Nice work.
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment
click on thumbnails for full image