‘‘One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make it worth watching.”
I thought the following posts say a whole lot more about me than the usual bio. I sure hope this will keep you interested in what I will want to share with you in the future.
”I decided to be a witness of the sad beauty of those who had left the ship to sail away in a world of their own.”
TOBE OR NOT TO BE – A Short Photo Essay
Introduction by Helene Burkholder
If I may, I would like to share a few pictures on The End of Being that were taken by a virtual friend of mine, Tobe Damit. I first saw these photos posted on his Facebook account about a year ago. I thought those pictures were phenomenal for a few reasons: They were shot on film (rather than digitally) then scanned, are not photoshopped, nor artificially lit or staged. I always found that photos shot to film by analog camera have a wonderful graphic quality that I find myself missing nowadays. They also display a world which, apart from the new flashy technology we now have, has not changed much – alcoholism, despair, homelessness, poverty and abandonment are still very present today as they were when these pictures were taken in 1988 and 1989. These photos will probably be viewed by some as flawed, but to me they exude a rawness that I find missing in today’s ‘perfectly framed’ digital photography. All photos and texts by Tobe Damit.
I had just finished my second of three college years in the program in Arts and Media Technologies in Jonquière (Québec), and my girlfriend and I met up with four of her friends – one of whom was just back from spending 2 years in Thailand and was brought back to Canada after a hard and long search led by his father – half-way on route to Québec City, where there was this huge party planned for the birthday of a friend of my girlfriend and her best friend. It all went perfectly wrong, as any real good party should go, and the police had to end it abruptly. Four of us decided there and then to go on a road trip going from Quebec City, to Montreal, to New-York, ending in Virginia Beach, since all of us were free for the summer and had cars at our disposition. The main declared purpose of this road trip was unknown to all of us.
During this trip, I got to better know one of the friends that was with us. This guy had gone totally mad travelling across Thailand, doing stuff with no logical meaning whatsoever. He was seen by many locals and left behind him only whispers of pity and incomprehension. This lunatic was pretty much out of it and nobody had managed to find out what had happened to put this previously very open-hearted, grounded, good fellow and appreciated companion, in this state… This had a very strong effect on me and I realised how thin the line that kept us mentally fit (according to social standards) was, and made me appreciate that these people also had some kind of wisdom and spontaneity that most of us “sane people” were somehow lacking… So, as I had my old Leica camera with me, I decided to be a witness of the sad beauty of those who had left the ship to sail away in a world of their own.
It was somehow prophetic because 20 years later I was myself declared as having a schizoid-paranoid personality. A disease that is supposed to be, by definition, chronic and never go away but some miracle saved me and I can tell you for sure now that I am back to my old self. Going through this maze had a strong spiritual impact on me and even today there are some things that happened during that period that I cannot explain, things I was foreseeing, thought that I was reading in other peoples’ minds…
I do indeed take a lot of interest in human nature in every possible way, the closer to the heart the better. I do realise people would maybe have liked to know more about the pictures but being who I am I as afraid to be boring them because I do like to write. It is my second talent, maybe even my first but English being a second langage to me, I am afraid to make very obvious mistakes. I would be happy however to answer any specific questions you might have about me or the pictures. It truly sucks to have your camera stolen. Especially when the culprit is themother of your child. Thank you so much for your interest and your kind words. Thank you for allowing me to share the way I perceive the world with so many people. It means a lot to me. Thanks to Helen who gave me the chance to share my work and who saw something into it. Thanks to Rob from the website The End of Being who gave me such a nice presentation and gave my work such value. Forever grateful to the both of you.
Sadness Has an High IQ.
Once I was with my grandfather and I was about 7 or 8 years old. We stopped at a red light and in front of us passed like a dozen of people who were obviously ill mentally ( I dunno what the politically correct term is nowadays but I’d use it if I knew it I promise) so I said to him ”OMG they must be sooo saad” and he said ”No they are not, actually maybe they are happier then a lot of very very brilliant people with a very high IQ” so I said ”Why?? Why would you say that??” He said ” Well, they do not know some things and maybe it’s better that way”. I know it’s not funny but I had to tell you cuz I never told this to anyone and from this day on, I realised that very often I was sad because I think too much. From that day on I sincerly wished to be a ”Happy Imbedcile”. I don’t think I got much success at it.
On this pic my grandfather is the one sitting at the table, ready to write down something on a pad with a pen. His name was Pierre-Paul Leduc and he was leader of scouting patrols during WW II. May he rest in Peace.
My grandfather appears on this pic. He’s the one ready to write on a white pad:
Loud Alien Noize 
Awesome introduction about yourself !! Loves the arts as well.
Keep this up and plz share more in the future ~~
Peace out !!! 🙂
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Will do!!! TY for your interest…. If you read ”Mourning Sun” I think it will give you a real good idea of who I am… Inside. TY so much for your interest and I will gladly follow and check out your blog more in the coming days. 🙂
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Hi. Thanks for the FOLLOW. I have a hunch you got to my blog due to the posts on comics conventions 🙂
I checked out some of your recent posts and you don’t seem like someone new to the blogging experience at all (although I also don’t totally know when you wrote this About Me page, he he). You have interesting posts. Kind of disturbing at times, but interesting. So I think I’m following back not just to show appreciation but so that I can get updated when you write something interesting 🙂
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Thank you!! I am new to blogging. This is my first blog and I started in the end of April. I wrote the ”about me” page within the first month I was on here and yes your comic convention got me ..TOTALLY!! ;)…Thanks for following me I am so flattered and happy each and everytime I get a comment, a like or a new follower… You must remember how it is when you first started … I will do my best to keep you interested. TY so much for your comment and encouragments. You made my day my friend!! 😀
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Well, I first started many years ago (Friendster, Hi5, LiveJournal, Multiply…he he) so yes, I do know how it feels like. Sometimes, it could be frustrating when no one seemed to care. Then I learned to just do it for myself and not care too much about likers/followers. So sometimes, I got/get my share of those, a lot of times I don’t/didn’t. But I do, up to now, feel liked and appreciated when I meet sincere bloggers 🙂
Keep on blogging, Tobe! :>
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So true…. I write my own stuff but I am better in French…on here I wrote Mourning Sun and also I have a gallery of pictures I took myself on a blog called A short photo essay. (there are others but these are my fav and I don’t wanna seem to be flooding you.. 😉 ) I think the process of creating is the most rewarding and fullfilling that one can get. That’s what gets me going anyways… I am very glad I met you. I also feel liked and appreciated when I meet sincere blogges like you.
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I’m sure going to check out your stuff. 🙂
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And I have been and will continue to check out your stuff too!! I’m so pleased we met you know 🙂 You are very encouraging and your comments always give me a boost!
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Dear Tobe–Thanks for visiting my blog G Bebs Photo and for the nice note. I’m really enjoying browsing through your most interesting and often intriguing work! G Bebs
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TY SO MUCH!!! 😀
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TY for taking the time!!! Did you like my pics?? I’m a sucker for b&W!
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Hi! I have nominated YOU for the Liebster Award. As said there, “I am nominating people with whom I have had very insightful and educational discussions with, who care about their followers and whose sites I really enjoy visiting…if you’ve done this already and do not wish to participate anymore, kindly give us a link to your Liebster Award page — I really do want to read your answers! If you can’t answer because it does not follow your blog’s strict format, or you simply just don’t want to, no biggies, we understand.”
I just want you to know I appreciate you and your blog. You can find your award here: Rock, Liebster!
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I am so honored. It makes me very hapy and proud to be your friend and to know you think off me and my blog in those terms. Thank you so much!! Hugz my dear friend !! 🙂
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You deserve it 🙂
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Erm…I just don’t know how it works?? Do I have to make up a page for it? Do I have the award or am I competing and winning it or not depending on my answer to the questions? I just never seen this before and hvae no idea how it works!! Help MEEEEE GI!!!! lol!! Hugz!!!
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I am inspired! Love your photography! Read your words with the Velvet Underground.
A place in the world and to be happy with that place; this desire I know very well. I sometimes/often feel that my place is as the Happy Idiot or The Fool. A title that leaves much to interpretation.
I really enjoyed reading this. Made me feel understood. Thanks for sharing.
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You are very welcome!!! I think a comment I made about these pictures also applies to much of everything I do; ” I decided to be a witness of the sad beauty of those who had left the ship to sail away in a world of their own.”… And yes I truly very often wished I was a Merry idiot or a Happy Camper… My mind sometimes makes me suffer from seing and understanding how cruel and ”ill wishing” people sometimes are. I try to be respectfull and polite and nice in general but sometimes my previous experiences make me feel people are making fun of me or are trying to box me in. I get paranoid and clumsy in my relationships with people I don’t know very well. I am glad it made you feel understiid cuz it had the same effect on me when I read your comment and most of your posts!! Peace Out my friend!! Let’s try to know each other mire!! I would really like that!!
Sincerely, Tobe (DAMMIT!!)
2014-10-26 22:41 GMT-04:00 Loud Alien Noize :
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Dropping in again to say that I’m looking forward to reading your blog. I actually just bought a cheap digital camera, but I wouldn’t call myself a photographer by any means. As far as art goes, I’m a musician, but I really like just about every form of art. It’s very important for the world to have it. :]
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If you take pictures you are a photograph! let your sensitivity guide you when you atke a pic…. That’s what will define your style.That is when you take ”artistic pics” of course… A good tip… Try and take pics with people on it… Makes it easier to make interesting pics when you begin..
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Ill just end up putting the “F” back in “art” if i try. I leave it to the pros. ;]
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There are no pros. Everyone is an artist. Andy Warhol said ”Art is everything you can get way with”!! I definitely love that one… Don’t you?
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Hi! Just want to let you know I mentioned you HERE. 🙂
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Fiou!! You said nice things about me!! LOL !! Just kidding!! TY so much for always being so faithful in my b”’blogging qualities” and spo loyal as a friend and a blogger!!! You will always have a special place in my heart cuz you were the first to encourage me and to give me a little push in he right direction!! Showing me y example what I could do to hewlp myself. TY TY TY!!! HUGZ GI!!
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Happy to know you are enjoying yourself 🙂
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I most definitely found out a lot about me doing this blog. I feel it made me complete. I had to learn to write my own stories and deal with the dificulty in writing in a second lanagae but I’m getting better and one of my all time favorite writer has now become my ”letterary sponser” and a photograph I admire very much too!!! I’m so blessed. I hope you are doing well too??
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Thanks..I’ll try to do well 🙂
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Thanks!! I left a comment THERE!! 😉 Hugz my dear friend!!
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Fascinating stories to hold your attention. Bravo tobe
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TY Merry X-Mas!
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