Photographers Share the Saddest Thing They’ve Shot

17.

During a late night walk along the Ganges, I came across what looked like a mountain lion rummaging through trash that had washed up on the shore. I got closer to try to get a picture. Once I got closer I realized that it was actually a large, pregnant dog chewing on the head and neck of a human body that had been sent down the river. I took pictures – it’s always my first instinct – but the sight, and memory was somewhat sickening. Now, whenever I see a puppy, all I can think of is the unborn puppies nourished by the discarded remains of poor city folk.

18.

I was just working on a project where I wanted to document crime scenes in my area, I wanted to call attention to violent crime while paying memory to real life victims at the same time. I went to the first crime scene, a place where an older woman was massacred and the man smeared her blood everywhere and wrote “666” on the wall with her blood, he claimed the devil made him do it. My project almost stopped and ended with the first crime scene. Although 5 years had passed since her body was discovered there, the place had a strong depressing vibe to it. It felt like evil touched my soul. Just being in a place where I knew something like this happened was too heavy for me.

19.

My aunt and uncle’s cessna went down in 2007, killing them both. I went and photographed the crash site after it was cleaned up and then went to the airport to see the planes wreckage. I can still smell the caked on blood when I see the photos and feel the heartache it caused my family. Those are powerful photos I don’t want to see. I have them archived and never open them.

20.

Saddest event i ever photographed was the memorial for the fort hood shooting. So many devastated soldiers and their families.

21.

18 Feb 2008, 38 people killed in Afghanistan when an IED is exploded in the town of Spin Boldak.. As the clean up was ongoing I was wandering and documenting the carnage. I saw a police officer approaching a pile of bodies and in his arms was the eviscerated body of a child no older than 10… The innocent people that have lost their lives is frustrating..

Written by Irvi Torremoro

Irvi Torremoro is an Austinite by way of Las Vegas. She's worked in various outlets in food & beverage and is now focused on writing, eating all the things, talking about Beyonce, and petting all the puppies. She runs flavorandbounty.com, a lifestyle blog about people in the service industry.