Ruth Lauer Manenti: I Imagined it Empty

"I Imagined It Empty" offers readers a deeply moving and introspective exploration of life, loss, and the enduring connections we forge with the spaces we inhabit.

Immerse yourself in an emotional journey inspired by the author's personal experiences and the last photographs taken of her mother, capturing the beauty that emerged in her final days of life.

Explore poetic and nostalgic imagery that subtly conveys the notion that our homes hold the spirits of those who lived in them, filling the space with memories beyond the physical presence.

A beautiful, original design by one of the best photobook designers in the world today.

I imagined It Empty was inspired by several pictures the author had taken of her mother in 2017, briefly before she passed away. "My mother rarely let me photograph her except in the last week of her life when she changed her mind. Each day as she approached her death, she became more beautiful."

The book is a silent and moving contemplation of life beyond life and the desire to find solace and presence within the walls of the place that we choose to call home. The loss of dear ones is reflected in the sense of belonging to a place, a house full of history, which also carries on the life of others. "I know that I will not live in this house forever. The house will hopefully outlive me, but I wonder if a part of me will outlive the house."