I don’t know if you’re familiar with the works of the photographer Robert Santafede. In July 2012 the activity on his website and all his other online profiles (Google+, twitter etc) came to a halt and since then he’s been silent. I’ve tried to contact him through email, his website, facebook and Google+ without any luck.
Robert Santafede – «too dark park»
Robert and I were blogger friends: we used to visit each others blogs and comment on each others photos. One of the things that I loved about his photography was that he mastered the play between light and darkness and his photos had this kind of dark undertone to them.
I have no idea what has happened to Robert, suddenly he was quiet. Sometimes I wonder about it (and I know that I’m not the only one) – even though I just knew him through our blogs. Robert wasn’t very active in his blog over a long period of time, from December 2011 to July 2012, so it’s possible that he just grew tired of blogging and photographing – a lot of people do, and the majority of blogs never get older than a year or two before they start gathering dust in one of the many dark and forgotten corners of the internet.
But, I’m getting suspicious when all his accounts went silent around the same time and they’ve been quiet ever since… It’s weird how you feel connected to people who you really don’t know. I guess that “the new technology” (computers and internet aren’t really that new) does bring people closer in some ways – even the ones that we don’t know.
So, what happened to Robert? Did he die, did he gave up the internet, moved to a place without connection, got locked up in jail, had an accident and forgot all his passwords? A lot of things can happen in life and I don’t have the answer to these questions.
Robert, if you read this: I hope that you’re doing well.
Here’s a gallery with some of Robert’s works. You can see more in the links below the gallery. All the photos in this post belongs to Robert Santafede (obviously).
- http://www.robertsantafede.com
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/robert-santafede/
- ‘Runoff’ is the title of the last published post in Robert’s blog http://robertsantafede.com/2012/07/06/robert-santafede-runoff/
Cardinal Guzman 
I hope this post brings some information about Robert Santafede, his work is wonderful.
I hope so too.
fabulous pictures thank you for sharing them i hope he is well and knows his work is appreciated, have a great day
I hope so too Kezia. Thanks.
I also wonder what has happened to him. As you say Max I hope he is well.
I’ve tried to find out, but with no luck.
You did a good thing writing about him. I really like his work but there is indeed something dark in it. If I remember correctly he was taking off towards Oregon on a hike. Sounding to me like starting something new. I do hope he is allright and doing what he wants to do.
It’s good to hear that you think it was a good thing, because I was in doubt if I should post this or not. I’ve actually worked on this post for quite some time. More mentally than actual hours in front of the computer. A post like this raises a lot of philosophical and ethical questions, like:
“what good can come of it, what bad can come of it, is it my business, how would I have reacted if it was me” stuff like that.
I can imagine it has been on your mind for a while and understand your deliberations and doubts. What ever happened has happened Max. Let us just see what comes of it. You do it with best intentions from a warm heart. How can that be bad?
Yes, there’s not much we can do about anything really. Life is basically just a long line of random events that’s vaguely connected somehow.
That is philosophical! And a theme for photographs!
Does that mean that he’s not originally from Oregon? Where’s he from? Maybe he’s gone back there for some reason.
I cant remember clearly, but at some point he mentioned needing a break and ‘go on the road’. And I think he went to Oregon. Have to read his blog again to find it back.
I find it unsetting when people just disappear like this. I also agree technology can bring us closer in some ways, I feel like I do have a few blogger friends. I include you in that group, but I think it is important to remember that I only know you in one way. There is much more about your life that I don’t know than I do. It’s helpful to me to keep that in mind when people that I know on this type of platform are suddenly gone.
That’s true. There’s a lot more about me that you don’t know and vice versa, but like you say: it’s still unsettling.
It’s too bad he’s not around, his photos are powerful.
So strange when people drop out of sight/site that way! I suppose you’ve already googled to see if an obit turns up?
Yes, internet is the first place to look, but I’ve had no luck.
Wow, what a talented person, great images….I do hope all is well with him
Hopefully it is. Thanks Sue.
Thanks for this selection; I knew nothing about this man. That lead shot is fantastic. I too wish him well.
I agree: the lead shot is really something else.
We had something like that happen on wordpress. Graf site run by someone who just suddenly stopped.
We tried to contact him, but nothing.
Nice photos.
I don’t know the graf site, but I know that it sucks when it happens.
I hate it when this happens! Nothing you can do if someone doesn’t want to be found. Strange how it does leave a gap in your life, though. Hope he’s having a rave of a time somewhere. Love Aquaphobia especially :0
That’s true, it’s hard to find people if they don’t want to be found. Hopefully that’s the case and, like you’re saying; he’s having a rave of a time somewhere.
Wow! His work is amazing!
Yes, his photos have a good style. I especially like the ‘Too Dark Park’ and the ‘Shining’.
He has an amazing collection of pictures. Thank you for sharing! And I hope he gives you news soon, cause this agony of not knowing anything is the worst thing ever.
Yes, it’s a great collection. I’m not expecting any news, because I assume that he’s dead. In my mind that’s the only reasonable cause to why someone suddenly leaves all their online activity at once.
Unfortunately, this option sounds like the most reasonable one…
Yes it does, but he left an impression and that’s not bad at all.
What an impression. Among the ones you shared, I love especially “Runoff” – this picture tells tons of things. Curiously, this was his last post…
I know, I’ve been thinking about the same. Like it’s some kind of poetry to it.
Thanks for sharing these fantastic images. Keep me posted if you get an update on his status.
I’ll do that.
Excellent photography!
Yes it is.
I’ve often wondered what happened to Robert too. I loved his work and he was great to correspond with – we shared a love of The Damned and King Crimson.
Yes he was great to correspond with and I would have loved to see more photos from him.
What a fine portrait.
I have never crossed paths with him, but the photos are impressive. I hope he just went off grid …. I would have wondered and be worried too 😦
P.S. I could not resist and googled him up – he has sad, blue eyes.
Just because he is an on line friend doesn’t make him any less real, or the hole left by his absence any less unsettling. It’s hard not knowing what has happened. I hope you get an answer and I hope he’s OK. Thanks for posting some of his beautiful work.
Beautiful serie!
I have known Rob since 1998 or 99. The last I had contact with him was about a year ago. I have tried to contact him since with no avail. He does “disappear” from time to time, so I am sure everything is ok.
I’m glad to hear that Mark. If you hear from him again, tell him I said hello!
Hey Cardinal, I was good friends with Robert from around 1999-2002 when he mysteriously disappeared as well. He’s very nomadic in nature I’ve been searching for him ever since to reconnect and came across is photos online in 2012 as well. We used to exchange music production as we were both into Drum and Bass music back then and big in the rave scene. One thing he told me back then was “When I need to disappear I will and no one will be able to find me” I always laughed it off until one day it happen. Now I see it’s happened again. He was a very private and protected of his life and lets very few in. I just happen to be so lucky. Hopefully he’ll resurface again.
Thanks for the comment and info Joe. I’ve been stuck at the same place for a few years in a row now, but I can definitely relate to being nomadic.
I used to trade music (black metal, predominantly) with Rob back in the early 2000s. We played Dark Age of Camelot and Guild Wars together around that time, too. He was pretty good at closing email accounts and various means of communication to winnow his contacts out. Not sure why I thought to Google him, but I came across this post and got to see a side I didn’t know. Any chance there’s a happy conclusion to your search?
Unfortunately I don’t know anymore now than what I did when I wrote this post and what I learned from the comments…
I knew Rob from music (metal,drums) for almost twenty five years and he was always a recluse. He disappeared on me and a few RL friends in Aug 2019. Just looked him up and came across this page. Never even knew he took photos. Hope he’s doing good wherever he ended up.