Funeral homes bear the burden of being at once comforting (if only temporarily) and austere, a balance necessary to convey a sense of being able to mourn the deceased in a home-like environment. As a place of last respects and deep grief, the funeral home becomes an unwanted but ultimately unavoidable experience. In Contender Corey Hendrickson's submission, the photographer used his 35mm Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III to capture the thought-out, reverent and functional staging of funeral homes across Vermont.

Funeral home interior with matching yellow sofas and patterned wallpaper; Montpelier, Vermont, 2010 by Corey Hendrickson

Funeral home interior with silk flowers, life savers and princess phone; Rutland, Vermont, 2011 by Corey Hendrickson

Hendrickson succinctly explains:

Funeral homes are created as [a] sanctuary for grief and loss. I approached these somber environments as an archaeologist, carefully documenting the wallpaper, drawn curtains, antique couches and air fresheners. I am intrigued by the aesthetics of comfort and found beauty in the careful arrangement of everyday objects.

Casket showroom with men's suit, shirt and tie; Chelsea, Vermont, 2011 by Corey Hendrickson

Funeral home interior with Kleenex; Chelsea, Vermont, 2011 by Corey Hendrickson

Born in 1975 in Cambridge, MA, Corey Hendrickson worked for the U.S. Forest Service in Colorado and Alaska before moving to Jackson, Wyoming, and starting a career as a photographer. Corey then received his MFA in photography from the Academy of Art University in 2009. Corey is a 2011 Photolucida Critical Mass finalist for this same body of work, and one of the prints is now in the permanent collection at the Center for Fine Art Photography in Colorado. Corey photographs environmental portraits, architecture, food and travel. He currently lives in central Vermont with his dog, Jake, and works throughout New England.

Untitled, by Corey Hendrickson

Funeral home interior with organ, podium and Rembrandt; Rutland, Vermont, 2011 by Corey Hendrickson