Peter Engblom Zululand

 last night on facebook, a late check to see what the facebook friends are busy entertaining each other with.

At the top, a post saying RIP followed by the name. This is a strange feeling, this is unreal, the man had been posting and commenting on posts two days ago. The last post, unusual music, an unusual post for the man. Usually, it was only his pictures and items found, maybe a video.

Read, look for further posts. All his friends in South Africa expressing their dismay. Much effusive praise,

Read on.

More posts, all from different people, visions of moving on and paradise and all those after death fantasies.

This morning, after having gone to the shops to collect shirts and to buy milk bread cheese apples and gas for water; Gas to make the tap water fizzy, read the news again. It must be true now, there are just too many.

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Peter Engblom visited the photographic school in the Clemensstraße in Munich during the years 1975 to 1977. His brilliance put every other student in the shade, including the one responsible for this blog. He always had the most daring ideas, the most creative ways of dealing with photography,  all of his pictures were a testimony to his technical skill and artistic ability.

The class separated in 1977, and due to the difficulties of life and varying interests, there was no further contact.

Some years ago Facebook provided an insight into his activities, his pictures all wild, dramatic, partly salacious. Being "FB -friends", liked the things to be liked, ignore those that displeased.

Or that were not to be understood.

His comments on photos belong to the most valued criticism ever received on this side of the friendship.

It was a pleasant dream to go to South Africa to visit him and see his work and maybe to have a glass of lemonade with him. Or even to drink beer.

That dream is now without substance, there is no current reason to go there. 

There is nothing left but to offer condolences to his family and friends everywhere at their enormous and untimely loss.

https://www.facebook.com/pengblom