A cancer journey – seen through a lens
For passionate photographer and community artist Bob Clayden there was never any doubt about how he would make sense of a cancer diagnosis.
When facing life’s difficulties, Bob from Pontefract, West Yorkshire, says he finds them easier when seen through a view finder.
As a keen and regular swimmer, Bob was fit and healthy until he developed a problem swallowing. His speech therapist sister insisted he consult a GP, and very quickly he was referred to Pinderfields for investigations which revealed he had an upper gastro intestinal cancer.
He was offered oncology care at Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, and surgery at St James Hospital, Leeds. Bob, a retired NHS fitter, decided to document the process using photography.
Called ‘Pathway’, his project was to take a head and shoulders portrait of everyone he met during his treatment between June and November last year.
He asked permission from each of his subjects – from receptionists to radiographers – from consultants to caterers. In the main he said people were very supportive and he had very few refusals resulting in 80 colour portraits.
“It helped me to come to terms with my diagnosis. It’s always been good for me to see the world through a view finder. I’m not good with heights but I’m fine if I am photographing them.”
Bob wanted his medical staff to see him as a person, rather than just as a patient. By documenting his progress he wanted to demonstrate the part he played in the treatment.
“It also gave me something to talk to people about, rather than just my cancer“ he added.
At times Bob was quite unwell and this can be evidenced by the quality of some of the photographs. The camera may have been a little unsteady at times as Bob struggled to remain in focus. Participants were filmed in the locations where they worked so this could affect available lighting.
He also took self portraits along the way so he can trace the impact the treatment was having.
For a month he was hospitalised and his wife had to carry his Nikon camera back and forth during visiting times, so Bob wasn’t always able to capture every healthcare professional he came across.
Now the photography part of the project is complete and Bob would like to exhibit the photographs – perhaps in the hospitals where he was treated once the lockdown has ended.
Bob is a member of the West Yorkshire & Harrogate Cancer Alliance Community Panel and also an elected governor for SWYPT (South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust).