JOE BUDI O'BRIEN

The Rabbit Walk and Other Photographs

This project is a tender embracement of grief over the loss of my father - Roderick O'Brien, who passed away in September 2024. The book reflects upon the fond memories I had with him, through photographing a family walk in the North West English countryside near Lancaster, where I grew up. I also documented many of my father's belongings, portraying the good-humoured, larger-than-life and compassionate character he was. The photographs were made between October 2024 and February 2025.



Eulogy, 11th October 2024

I really had the best childhood a parent could give. Dad always had my best interests at heart and introduced me to so much in life. 

He taught me to be compassionate, tough and see the beauty life offered when times appeared bleak. His love of culture, music, literature and history has sparked so many conversations between us as father and son.

I can count on Dad for telling a bad joke; at times were intellectual and one had to think deeply to 'get it', other times short and silly. I miss the car rides he gave me to and from music rehearsals, a favourite saying of mine by him upon
reaching our house; 'Home again, home again, home again, home'.

I always felt happy at home as BBC Radio 3 played when Dad was cooking. He was an exceptional cook; one of his most eccentric recipes he tried, Run Over Duck, had him, quite literally, in his car driving over a homemade duck press where the duck meat lay in a roasting tray. The purpose was to squeeze all the succulent juices out of the bones into the meat, where upon we’d roast the duck afterwards.

Alongside his passion for listening to his favourite composers Bach and Handel, his love of literature’s giants Geoffrey Chaucer and Henry Fielding, and his great command of the English language, Dad felt deeply at peace when fishing. He took such care in tying his own flies, making with delicacy. His kind spirit to friends and family will always live on.

His gift to me when I was 14 years old, a 35mm camera, will always hold his resonance when I photograph the world. Aside from being an eccentric and loving father, he loved my mother and embraced Indonesian culture with all his heart. Although I will miss showing Dad a piece of culture or sporting event, I know he will never leave me; I can almost hear him in our house. When life gets tough, he would tell me to be tougher and keep fighting. I hope you’re fishing in peace Dad.

Joe Budi O'Brien

The Rabbit Walk and Other Photographs

This project is a tender embracement of grief over the loss of my father - Roderick O'Brien, who passed away in September 2024. The book reflects upon the fond memories I had with him, through photographing a family walk in the North West English countryside near Lancaster, where I grew up. I also documented many of my father's belongings, portraying the good-humoured, larger-than-life and compassionate character he was. The photographs were made between October 2024 and February 2025.



Eulogy, 11th October 2024

I really had the best childhood a parent could give. Dad always had my best interests at heart and introduced me to so much in life. 

He taught me to be compassionate, tough and see the beauty life offered when times appeared bleak. His love of culture, music, literature and history has sparked so many conversations between us as father and son.

I can count on Dad for telling a bad joke; at times were intellectual and one had to think deeply to 'get it', other times short and silly. I miss the car rides he gave me to and from music rehearsals, a favourite saying of mine by him upon
reaching our house; 'Home again, home again, home again, home'.

I always felt happy at home as BBC Radio 3 played when Dad was cooking. He was an exceptional cook; one of his most eccentric recipes he tried, Run Over Duck, had him, quite literally, in his car driving over a homemade duck press where the duck meat lay in a roasting tray. The purpose was to squeeze all the succulent juices out of the bones into the meat, where upon we’d roast the duck afterwards.

Alongside his passion for listening to his favourite composers Bach and Handel, his love of literature’s giants Geoffrey Chaucer and Henry Fielding, and his great command of the English language, Dad felt deeply at peace when fishing. He took such care in tying his own flies, making with delicacy. His kind spirit to friends and family will always live on.

His gift to me when I was 14 years old, a 35mm camera, will always hold his resonance when I photograph the world. Aside from being an eccentric and loving father, he loved my mother and embraced Indonesian culture with all his heart. Although I will miss showing Dad a piece of culture or sporting event, I know he will never leave me; I can almost hear him in our house. When life gets tough, he would tell me to be tougher and keep fighting. I hope you’re fishing in peace Dad.

Joe Budi O'Brien
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