“The pictures had already been taken and partially edited when Eric (Eric Anderson, director of the Blanden Memorial Art Museum) offered the exhibition space and time at the Blanden. Sharing this rather personal photo essay in a museum setting where people can spend time with the images seemed a better fit than sharing it on social media or through attempting to sell a printed book. The name is taken from a James Grant song called “Walk the Last Mile.”

What will people see when they come to this exhibition?

“The exhibit is a series of 20 images taken during a three week period in July of 2023 that document the final decline, death and then the immediate aftermath of my father, Leif Madsen’s death in Denmark. Everything was taken on film and then wet printed in the darkroom. It’s a dark subject that isn’t often explored in photography.”

How did you manage your emotions while documenting the final days of your father in this way?

-Photograph by Hans Madsen My mom, Else Madsen, looks off into the office as we arrive at the emergency room at Gentofte Hospital. He spent several days there before we able to bring him home.

“On some occasions, not very well. One of the things you learn as a photojournalist is to detach from the events in front of you while you have a camera in your hand. Having that camera wall helped most of the time. Sometimes it broke down and the camera had to get set down.”

What does your family think of this effort?

“Everyone has been supportive. My mom is anxious to see the work in whole. I absolutely can’t thank my wife, Carol, enough for her support as well. With her this would simply not have happened.”

Why do you work in film?

“I learned photography with film. In those days, viable user digital imaging was something that only existed on a drawing board. “With film, the entire process is hands-on, it’s a very tactile experience. Digital, to me, is sterile and not much more than mouse clicks, I feel no connection to the process at all. With film, I’m directly involved.” “Film also responds to light differently than a digital sensor and software does. Black and White digital, to my eye, is lifeless. “The film work extends into the dark room. All the images in the show are printed on actual photo paper in my darkroom.”

-Photograph by Hans Madsen My dad, Leif Madsen, looks at what's left of his icecream cone on one of our first days home in July of 2023. It turned out to be his last one.

Please tell us about your photographic career.

“I began in junior high with a Pentax K1000 that I detassled corn to buy. I was lucky, I had a mentor/teacher, Leo Lauver, that worked with me and encouraged me.

“Eventually, my interests gravitated towards photojournalism. I began by chasing fire trucks, then eventually began getting assignments. I got my first full-time newspaper job in 1998 at the Fairmont Sentinel. This was followed by a stint at the Faribault Daily News, then onto The Messenger in 2005. After my position was eliminated in the great COVID dustup, I continue to do freelance work.”

If You Go

What: “Walk the Last Mile:

-Photograph by Hans Madsen My mom, Else Madsen, watches as the funeral director brings dad out of the apartment into the hearse.

A Journey with My Father”

photo exhibit by Hans Madsen

When: April 5 through June 21

Where: Blanden Memorial Art Museum,

920 Third Ave. S.

A reception will be held from

2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 12 with

photographer Hans Madsen speaking at 3 p.m.