Till the last drop

This project describes an industry in the absence of blood and other blood products in the face of strong request because of the many patients with acute leukemia, lymphoma, bone marrow transplant.

Keys: blood, children, Italy, portraits, women.

Photographer(s): Talos Buccellati

This project describes an industry in the absence of blood and other blood products in the face of strong request because there are many patients with acute leukemia, lymphoma, or need bone marrow transplant. The work aims to highlight the widespread need for donation and describes an history from women to other women. All portraist are made with Lens Till Shift.

“Till the last drop” is a photographical essay in which I want to draw attention to the widespread need for blood donations. The medical industry is confronted with drastic deficiencies. There is a very high demand for blood and blood products, since so many people require a blood transfusion because they are suffering from acute leukemia, lymphomas, or awaiting bone marrow transplants. Through these images Talos aims to bring this difficult situation to our attention; straightforward but without emphasizing painful aspects either to avoid a hypocritical or even voyeuristic effect. Also he does not want to arouse sympathy. Especially where it comes to children people tend to abusive use of sympathy. Therefore in this photo collection children are children, doctors are doctors and donors are just common donors. What connects them is solidarity which at the same time is the key to the whole project.

The donation of blood is a voluntary act – dictated by the pure spirit of solidarity of those who donate it – thus enabling a blood transfusion for those who need it.

It is estimated that under normal circumstances annually 40 units of blood are needed per1000 people, which adds up to 2.400.000 units per year in Italy alone. In 2000 Italy achieved self-sufficiency on national level. However in spite of regions and cities where they reached a collection of blood exceeding the demand, there are still many regions where the collection of blood is still inadequate and where they have to compensate by transferring blood from other locations. Furthermore despite the increasingly careful and elaborate use of blood, the demand is steadily increasing. After all it is not uncommon that also emergency situations, where much more blood is needed, do occur. This project was realized in cooperation with the Gaslini International Pediatric Hospital in Genoa, Italy.