Here's a question you might like to ponder...

Taking a photograph means being passive in the present in return for recording something for posterity. Are you prepared to take a photograph rather than intervene in an event? I immediately thought of photographing the last moments of Walter Benjamin's life. Then I realised that I'd try and stop him from dying in the darkness instead. Cheers, Mark

If he died in darkness it probably wouldn't have made a very good photo anyway.

Flash! Flash! Cheers, Mark

I'm in the process of acquiring a nice digi slr for photographing weird and wonderful characters in town and city centres. And if I can capture a few nice butts too...bonus! ~It's a maze for rats to try, it's a race for rats to die.~

My grandfather. He would never sit still long enough for a portrait. He always preferred to be on the other side of the camera. I hold the best image of him both in my mind and in my heart now.

An artful photograph, like a beautiful painting is a reflection of an artisitc eye.The artist saw something in the composition of the physical world around him/her that moved them to compose. The interest for me, in viewing these creations, is in looking into the perception of the creator. I find it endlessly fascinating that we all see things around us so differently. Colors, people, nature and other elements of composition come easily to some.The rest of us can but wonder how they saw and created something so interesting while it blew by most of us. I don't know how these talented people create such beauty, but I salute them for their contributions to our quality of life. J.X.M

That's a good point jxm, and with that in mind I have decided I would like photograph Audrey Hepburn, sometime in the late 50s or early 60s, and whilst she was taking a shower.

I think I would like to have photographed the raising of Lazarus. jude "Cacoethes scribendi" http://www.judesworld.net(link is external)

I'd photograph the exact moment of my own conception. Cheers, Mark

Narcissist. And would you really want to see that?!

It's a serious answer to a silly question. Imagine how much your view of yourself, your parents and the world at large would change if you knew, for sure, exactly how you came about. Just imagine it, witnessing the actual primal scene... Cheers, Mark

All conceptions look the same, so I wouldn't be too wowed by viewing my own. I suppose Peps, I would need a series of photographs from Lazarus looking a bit peaky to one showing him definitely dead and then in the tomb at the exact instances before during and after Jesus uttered the words "Lazarus, come out!" jude "Cacoethes scribendi" http://www.judesworld.net(link is external)

Archemides in the bath, Rousseau in PNG, Wittgenstein in womens' clothes - Frank Vincent Zappa with me. Ah well, you never made any stipulation as to possiblity, Pep.

Mark - that's a frightening thought. I'm going to spend some time imagining the exact circumstances of my conception. ... Okay, it was more difficult than I thought. As soon as I got close to actually imagining it - the precise physical details - a little mental blinker got in the way and made me think of something else. My Mum and Dad have never spoken to me about it. I know that some parents like to embarass their kids with stories of their conception. Anyway, this thinking made me write a wee poem, instead, so that's good: http://www.abctales.com/story/spack/my-conception-marks-end-progressive-...

The first ever chav, just to have it on record.

The moment of the Big Bang, then I'd nail it to my local Cathedral door (far more effective than posting on the internet, apparently).

I hate to get all technical but at the exact moment of our conceptions, most of our fathers were probably not present but at work the next day or mowing the lawn or something. The time lag between sex and conception is a couple of hours at least and a couple of days at most. If you meant you wanted to photograph the coital act that led to your conception , rather than your conception itself under a high-powered microscope, all I can say is you are sick little puppies. jude "Cacoethes scribendi" http://www.judesworld.net(link is external)

I would like a photo or, better yet, a series of photos of the Earth while dinosaurs still ruled. I would like the picture/s to include as many different species as possible so that we can see how close our guesses have been and maybe also get some insight into just how awesomely beautiful the Earth might still be had we not been so greedy and ruthless.

A before and after pic might be illuminating, Mark... since it is rumoured that Christ looked different after the resurrection - hence Thomas' doubt.

Thinking it wouldn't hurt to know a bit more about the apostle Thomas I had a wonderwander through Wiki and found this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_%28Apostle%29(link is external) "According to The Passing of Mary, a text attributed to Joseph of Arimathaea, Thomas was the only witness of the Assumption of Mary into heaven. The other apostles were miraculously transported to Jerusalem to witness her death. Thomas was left in India, but after her burial he was transported to her tomb, where he witnessed her bodily assumption into heaven, from which she dropped her girdle. In an inversion of the story of Thomas' doubts, the other apostles are skeptical of Thomas' story until they see the empty tomb and the girdle.[3] Thomas' receipt of the girdle is commonly depicted in medieval and pre-Tridentine Renaissance art." I had not come across miraculous transportations before in Christian texts but Buddha would teleport across rivers etc. some 500 years earlier so it's no surprise that the apostles could do it especially since some it appears had visited India. Also some confusing bits about Thomas being Judas (Jude) who was Christ's twin??? "The Acts of Judas Thomas: 2nd/3rd century (c. 180-230) [5] Gist of the testimony: The Apostles cast lots as to where they should go, and to Thomas, twin brother of Jesus, fell India. Thomas was taken to king Gondophares as an architect and carpenter by Habban. The journey to India is described in detail.After a long residence in the court he ordained leaders for the Church, and left in a chariot for the kingdom of Mazdei. There, after performing many miracles, he dies a martyr." Mind you, I'm seriously jet-lagged and might easily have misunderstood... a photo of Christ and Thomas together might be interesting... Just to see the colour of their eyes would be a treat.