If there’s one thing the majority of people fear, it’s most certainly the fact that one day they will die. And it’s the unknown that makes us fearful.

Death is something people avoid — the topic, the thought, and even being there for their loved ones in their final moments because they are too afraid. Why? Probably because nobody truly knows what happens after taking that last breath, no one wants to experience pain and suffering.

Photographer Walter Schels was once so afraid of death that he couldn’t even bear walking into the room after his mother died to say his goodbyes. This dread followed him around throughout his entire life; that is, until he reached his 70’s. That’s when he finally made up his mind to face his fears head-on by spearheading a project called Life Before Death. It involved photographing people in the moments right before their death and immediately after.

“Everything that’s not real is stripped away,” he told The Guardian. “You’re the most real you’ll ever be, more than you’ve ever been before.”

When Schels and his partner began speaking with individuals at hospices in Germany to see if they wanted to be a part of his project, they were shocked to find out that hardly anyone said no. They were happy he was there to be with them in those final moments, as many of those dying were abandoned by their friends and family not capable of dealing with the circumstances.

Sometimes, he would be on call and have to run out in the middle of the night to take his photos right before the undertaker would arrive.

“It’s so good you’re doing this. No one else is listening to me, no one wants to hear or know what it’s really like,” Schels remembers one man saying.

Although the entire process was tremendously draining, Schels no longer feels scared of death. In fact, he believes society’s avoidance of the issue is a severe problem that we must learn to overcome.

The black and white portraits Schels captured for his Life Before Death photos offer a rare glimpse into a macabre territory we often evade. And yet, these photographs are beautiful. His subjects look peaceful and at rest, despite the suffering they may have been experiencing previously.

At the end of the day, there’s no point in fearing something which is inevitable — the one thing in life you just can’t escape. I was once told that the people who are afraid to die, are afraid to live. If this is true, what’s something that you’ve always wanted to do that you’ve been too afraid of?

View more photos and information about those who passed here.

Images: Walter Schels