Come on, people. Haven’t we had enough of puppies and kitties and baby chicks? That’s animal ageism, and here at Flavorpill, we’re taking a stand. Well, okay, not really — we love puppies and kitties and baby chicks. But this series of photographs by Houston based artist Isa Leshko has a little more meaning than your average baby bear video. Leshko explains, “I began the series as a means of exploring my feelings about my mother’s decline due to Alzheimer’s Disease… As I’ve worked on this project, though, I’ve come to realize that these images are a testament to survival and endurance. And they raise questions about what it means to be elderly.” Leshko’s photographs are extremely powerful, at once heartbreaking and still full of life, eliciting our most human responses to old age and suffering in our furry friends. Click through to see some of our favorites from her collection and be sure to check out the rest of Leshko’s work.
Marino, Bronze Turkey, Age 5
Comments (24)
Thank you for writing about my project. I greatly appreciate your support for my work!
These are gorgeous and stirring.
[...] Beautiful black and white photographs of elderly animals by Houston based artist Isa Leshko. “I began the series as a means of exploring my feelings about my mother’s decline due to Alzheimer’s Disease… As I’ve worked on this project, though, I’ve come to realize that these images are a testament to survival and endurance. And they raise questions about what it means to be elderly.” http://flavorwire.com/171529/gorgeous-photographs-of-elderly-animals [...]
I absolutely love this.
Beautiful photos. I found the birds the most striking. Animals get old too – we tend to think we are the only ones!
You might also want to look at this gallery of senior dogs taken by Garry Gross http://dogphotographyofnewyork.com/flash/dogphotogallery4.php
The elderly are so neglected by our admiration and attention- Both human and animal. What a lovely project! I also admire this fashion blog: ttp://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/ which celabrates the beautiful looks of the older set. Cute is cute but endurence is inspiring.
The animals were treated with so much dignity and sensitivity. A verification that aging is not a scourge but a natural progression through life that should be revered.
This is so sweet.. almost made me cry! Love them.
Brave, nice to know some farm animals do reach a relatively ripe age.
I had to say goodbye to my dear Lab-mix last sept. She was 15 and would have fit right in here. Also, my mother (with dementia) died last week at 87 and the changes in her looks and body were profound. I took photos of her along the way and appreciate the project that Leshko took on here to honor her mother and to redirect our attention to these beautiful creatures. Thank you.
The picture of Pumpkin acually made me cry. It jus was something about the look in hes eyes.
that is one badass rooster!
Some of them remind me of my old Siamese cat ,he was 22 when he died. He had arthritis and was going blind but he had a good life.
These are so beautiful, they brought me to tears.
Very wonderful photo’s!
LOVE THESE ANIMALS AND THESE PHOTOS! I want you to shoot my gorgeous 20-year-old egyptian-looking white cat with piercing green eyes. She is geriatric age and the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.
what a fantastic investigation. i adored these and reblogged- hope you don’t mind. :]
[...] Flavorwire » Gorgeous Photographs of Elderly Animals. [...]
[...] Isa Leshko’s photography. Found through Flavorpill, the series Elderly Animals is thought provoking and incredibly beautiful. I’d love to see [...]
I most appreciated the image of Pumpkin, the 28-year old Morgan Arabian horse. This image, in particular, conveyed a great sense of quiet dignity.
thank you, Isa. Every cell responds to your photos as my family watches and have watched our companion animals age and then die. Dianne
Thank you so much for these photos. They lend such an aura of wisdom, majesty and stoicism to these animals! I loved every one of them!
Everyone’s comment was a good one! Look how peaceful these photos made us.
Hurrah for these photos and the animals in them. And everyone here who likes em.
Post a new comment