I describe the process by which I prepared to photograph my mother's deathbed scene. My researches led me to realize that a reluctance to document death is a very recent phenomenon. Famous deathbed paintings tended to be grand canvasses, or closer, more intimate paintings of the artist's loved ones. In capturing my mother's deathbed scene I chose a synthesis of these two styles, presenting a wider view of the scene in the tones of a textured palette of a painting, but with an intimate feel.