That Photo You Kind Of Remember

That Photo You Kind Of Remember 

You know, somewhere in the back of your memory there is a photo you will never forget. That photo has to be in some old shoebox, or maybe it is on that computer whose hard drive crashed. It has to be somewhere because you remember seeing it the last time you went through your files. Hopefully, you will remember where that photo is because that memory is tied to that image.

The memory of an event, a party, a celebration, a holiday, or just a slice of life is important to your personal history. Seeing that photograph helps activate that memory, and seeing details reminds you of clues that you have long forgotten. In many ways, having a photo is like having a time machine. You can look at it, see that event, and remember it more clearly. The photo is evidence of the events that transpired and allows you to realize that it actually did happen.

Until recently, photography was a rare occurrence. Now, with the prevalence of cell phones, photos are taken at any whim, whether substantial or frivolous. So even with something that happened last week, you can refer to your digital photos and confirm what you thought you saw or experienced. In the past, some people may have only had one photo taken in their entire lifetime. So only in that staged photo could they look back and remember the events that transpired. That photo was treasured because it was such a rare event and also because the costs were restrictive.

So, even with all these photos we have to remind us of events that recently occurred and events from the past, does that help us with our memories of those events? Do we rely on digital photos as evidence instead of relying upon our memories to validate our thoughts and concerns? It is interesting to consider the number of digital photos that are taken in comparison to traditional exposures that required processing and chemicals to develop. It is a wonder that any of us gets anything accomplished.

One thing that is lost with the rise of selfies is the group photo of events. You often have to ask a stranger to take a photo of the group. A few may carry tripods with them, but they are in the minority. Often, the candid photos that were taken, and even those photos that appeared to be mistakes, told the story better than a selfie. Those photos captured a slice of life. Perhaps they captured real-life events that cannot be achieved with a photo taken one foot from your face.

It will be very interesting to see what historians make of all these photos. I wonder what they will tell them about our society and who we are in comparison to other periods in time. Only time will tell the story we have to share with the future.

Computed