Photographer Documents Her Brother's Recovery From Heroin Addiction

Vancouver-based portrait and documentary photographer Jackie Dives has bravely followed her brother’s recovery from heroin addiction. With her camera, Dives captured vivid images of her brother in various stages on his road to recovery.

The photos offer an honest account of her brother’s struggle, capturing fluctuations of strength, pain, vulnerability, and hope.

“Us, together. On his first day in the world, and a few years later.”

Jackie Dives

Dives explained she “wanted to do it as a record for him, hopefully [as] a way for him to remember the severity of his addiction, and prevent him from relapsing.”

Jackie Dives

105mg Methadone

Jackie Dives

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105mg Methadone

Jackie Dives

105mg Methadone – Thumbs up for girlfriend’s breast implants

Jackie Dives

The significant of this series is amplified by the fact that Davis’ “love-infused photographic ambitions” began with her brother. Eight years his senior, she began documenting him the moment he was born.

105mg Methadone

Jackie Dives

105mg Methadone

Jackie Dives

105mg Methadone

Jackie Dives

In her artist statement, Davis wrote, “Because of our age gap, photography was a realistic way for us to connect that didn’t require us to have much in common, other than being in the same room.”

105mg Methadone – Pretending to smoke like our Mom

Jackie Dives

70mg Methadone + Heroin

Jackie Dives

30mg Methadone + Heroin

Jackie Dives

60mg Methadone + Heroin

Jackie Dives

60mg Methadone + Heroin

Jackie Dives

“Taking photos of my brother starting at such an early age helped me develop my photographic approach to photography. He moved fast, and wasn’t interested in what I was trying to create. I was able to quickly let go of any specific photographic intentions, and embrace the beauty of capturing the moment in its purity and realness.”

60mg Methadone + Heroin