The Journey is the Destination

Several years ago, reading one of the early issues of that most remarkable magazine, DoubleTake, I came across a selection of the journals of Dan Eldon. These were not ordinary journals. They were collages filled with clippings, odds and ends, his own artwork, and photographs taken while in Africa on assignment for Reuters. Some of the images are bizarre and terrifying, others seemingly mundane as if one is looking through an innocent enough scrapbook. Later I bought the book assembled by his mother from 17 black-bound journal books after he died.

I have never forgotten the first experience of going through that book.

This passionate and gifted young man came to a tragic end in Somalia, stoned to death by a mob in 1993 reacting to the UN bombing raid on the suspected headquarters of Gen. Mohammed Farah Ahdid. He was only 22. He was achieving renown for his photography. He was young. He was clear-eyed. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. What kind of destiny is that for someone so gifted who died in such a way and at such an age. An eternal mystery.

Each time I look through the book, the images sear themselves in my brain once again. Each page of his collages tells a story. They show the children of Somalia, the friends he made there, countless other images — but nothing is as it appears. They are mysterious and strange and poignant. He was so talented and so young. I think of how much the world lost with his death. You have to see the book to know what I’m talking about. It’s called “The Journals of Dan Eldon: The Journey is the Destination.”

Here are links to that private and now public world of Dan Eldon. He lived life — for a short, intense time.

Dan Eldon

Background

The Journals

These are large files that are graphic intensive and take a while to fully load. The wait will be worth it.

From Doubletake

To say that I am dumbstruck is an understatement!! Sat here weeping!! What an amazing human being, a awe-inspiring life and a compassion that is earth-encompassing. Shames me as I sit in my little world and upon occassion bemoan life’s sometimes unkind twists and there are souls like this courageous young man who went out and changed a part of the world. A totally profound entry!

He would be called a saint and a martyr by religious folks, a hero by others. One almost has the sense that he knew his life would be short. Thank you for sharing this. It’s an example of how powerful, creative, and life affirming the journaling process is, from everyday sorts of folks to people like Dan Eldon. His greatness lives on.

Truly . . . touching. I want to say amazing, after looking at the links, but that’s an understatement. My friend, you always seem to have such interesting insight. I want the book you talk of. I’ll have to check out Amazon.com . . . tragedy what happened to him.

I got lost in time looking at the links for Dan Eldon. A very gifted artist. I was especially taken in by his focus on the eyes of one individual he photographed in Kenya. A horrifying death, which reminded me of the many extremes in Africa. Thank you for turning a light on Dan’s journey.

A very special person indeed. I love this: “The Journey is the destination”!

Thank you so much for these links! I am speechless before this young man’s great talent. What a tragedy–the loss of such a fine person! Inspiring! Can’t thank you enough for sharing these links! :o)

Willy & Wilma

September 4, 2001

Dan Eldon was one in a million. He didn’t need words with so much talent for telling the story with pictures. There is a missing one that would have been good for the collage his Mother made from his journals–he & his three companions being stoned to death, tragically mistaken for being enemies

Bramble

September 5, 2001

Thank you Oswego.

Edelweis

September 19, 2002

Yes I remember this entry! I think I posted a note in the FOD entry. I re-read it. It’s very touching! Such a wonderful person! Thank you for this entry dear friend,