When Albert Hastings was eighty-five years old, photographer KayLynn Deveney moved near his small flat in Wales. KayLynn took notice of the small rituals and routinesgardening, laundry, grocery shoppingthat made up Bert's life. A friendship slowly developed as KayLynn began photographing parts of Bert's day. The two developed a simple yet effective method of storytellingwith KayLynn's images and Albert's handwritten textand the project evolved into The Day-to-Day Life of Albert Hastings a poignant and profound chronicle of aging, living alone, and the small things that make up our daily lives. Containing seventy-eight photographs along with poems written by Bert, his clock drawings, and personal family photographs, The Day-to-Day Life of Albert Hastings gives the reader a glimpse into one man's life. We can only imagine what stories are left untold.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
...we see moments from his day that reveal a chaming meticulousness...We don't learn everything about him from his small book of isolated moments from his last few years. Remarkably, though, we learn enough about this stranger to be interested in him, enough even, to love him. -- PDN, October 2007
An old man alone, at home. You'll find nothing less, and profoundly more in The Day-to-Day Life of Albert Hastings, photographer KayLynn Deveney's quietly moving late-life portrait. Hastings's handwritten captions create a revealing double perspective. -- O, The Oprah Magazine, September 2007
An old man alone, at home. You'll find nothing less, and profoundly more in The Day-to-Day Life of Albert Hastings, photographer KayLynn Deveney's quietly moving late-life portrait. Hastings's handwritten captions create a revealing double perspective. -- O, The Oprah Magazine, September 2007
About the Author
KayLynn Deveney is pursuing a PhD in photographic studies.
Albert Hastings passed away in February, 2007. He was 91 years old.
Albert Hastings passed away in February, 2007. He was 91 years old.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Don't know where to start:
great concept, total package optimized for peaceful enjoyment. Loved the feel, fonts, script, cover, size and color of the book.
Now to the important part (from a photographer's angle :)) Ms. Deveney's artful photographic view is extremely engaging and subtle.
The reader/observer is drawn into scenes where one is allowed a personal privilege to study an ordinary life nearing it's completion.
Her view point is not judgmental, enhanced or exaggerated. It's almost like a camera's view was snapped by accident, but I know better.
These are beautifully conceived and simple... the hardest type to achieve.
Enjoy the simple pleasures of a folded pair of clean "P-jays", shot of whiskey and a stately daffodil on the window sill.
The Day-to-Day Life of Albert Hastings is a gift to share with the hurried world.
great concept, total package optimized for peaceful enjoyment. Loved the feel, fonts, script, cover, size and color of the book.
Now to the important part (from a photographer's angle :)) Ms. Deveney's artful photographic view is extremely engaging and subtle.
The reader/observer is drawn into scenes where one is allowed a personal privilege to study an ordinary life nearing it's completion.
Her view point is not judgmental, enhanced or exaggerated. It's almost like a camera's view was snapped by accident, but I know better.
These are beautifully conceived and simple... the hardest type to achieve.
Enjoy the simple pleasures of a folded pair of clean "P-jays", shot of whiskey and a stately daffodil on the window sill.
The Day-to-Day Life of Albert Hastings is a gift to share with the hurried world.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Linda Carson
Format:Hardcover
The Day-to-Day Life of Albert Hastings
I truly enjoyed this book. It is a poignant, very heartwarming, and touching tribute to aging while living alone. I felt I got to know Albert just by viewing pictures of his life. It gave great insight into how loneliness effects are lives -- especially in our old age. The photography told a vivid story and having Albert write the captions added a personal touch. I would encourage anyone who loves books about aging as well as engaging photography to purchase this book. You won't be disappointed.
I truly enjoyed this book. It is a poignant, very heartwarming, and touching tribute to aging while living alone. I felt I got to know Albert just by viewing pictures of his life. It gave great insight into how loneliness effects are lives -- especially in our old age. The photography told a vivid story and having Albert write the captions added a personal touch. I would encourage anyone who loves books about aging as well as engaging photography to purchase this book. You won't be disappointed.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This was a beautifully photographed and rare insight into a simple and lonely man's day to day existance in the last phase of his life. His own words were an intergral part of this touching little book.
We were given a bit of insight into the day to day life of a person who may not have had much reason to keep on living, after his beloved wife had already departed 10 years ago; but was still able to find small pleasures and humor in his daily experiences and memories.
The photographer is indeed a special kind of person to be able to be accepted with her camera into his small and private world. Another person might not have ever seen the beauty or found his days interesting enough to document. But through her perceptive and sensative eye, we are exposed to the beauty of a life near it's end.
We were given a bit of insight into the day to day life of a person who may not have had much reason to keep on living, after his beloved wife had already departed 10 years ago; but was still able to find small pleasures and humor in his daily experiences and memories.
The photographer is indeed a special kind of person to be able to be accepted with her camera into his small and private world. Another person might not have ever seen the beauty or found his days interesting enough to document. But through her perceptive and sensative eye, we are exposed to the beauty of a life near it's end.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Kevin Fuller
Format:Hardcover
I'm not a photography expert by any means (actually, I aspire to be a photography novice). However, the pictures in this insightful and beautiful book, accompanied by Bert's handwriting, make me wish someone as talented as Ms. Deveney could elicit such meaningful subtext from my life if I live long enough to look back on it in my eighties. The photos hooked me into caring about Albert Hastings and prompted me to wonder about the things I might fret over during the closing credits of my own life. Again, I'm no photographer, but when pictures like these cause me to rethink what's important in my life, the art critic inside me smiles.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is one of the most touching collections of photos. I have come across single images from the series before and this was the reason for buying the book, but it wasn't until I viewed them all together in this special little book that it really hit me. Having spent a lot of time photographing the elderly I can appreciate the daily rituals Albert goes through, and Kaylynn has captured them all in the most moving, respectful way. Definitely a book I will treasure.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Leslie
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
this is one of those books you buy on a whim and will cherish forever. i gave out two copies to family members this recent christmas and they were both raving about it later. the whole concept of following an ordinary person around while they do their personal rituals was so fascninating, making the simple things meaningful. the photographs are stirring and the handwritten notes insightful. i have an aging grandfather, so i am biased i am sure, but i found myself smiling and feeling pangs of sadness like a rollar coaster ride while reading this book. my only advice, other than buying it, is to take a quiet moment to read it all in one sitting. after viewing this book, i immediately began documenting my own grandfathers day to day life a bit, i was so inspired.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By R. Davidson
Format:Hardcover
An absolutely charming collaboration between photographer and subject. Although it tells the story of Albert in his daily life it also says something about the photographer, her respect for the subject and skill as a photographer.
By Harry
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The simple things in life are made exquisite, touching, and memorable. I am a photographer and I can really appreciate this book and the amount of thought and work that went into it. Makes a perfect gift for anyone who is into art books! Beautiful color photos of Albert's lift. Paired with deep, yet humorous writings by Albert Hastings.
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