Periodically, people will ask me why I love photography as deeply as I do.
For as long as I can remember, I have had the privilege of capturing memories with a camera. The reason behind my love for the craft is rooted in my grandmother.
Growing up, I got to spend quite a bit of time with my paternal grandmother (pictured below).
As she grew older, her memory began to fade, and she was eventually diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
During the days we would spend together, the two of us would invest hours into pouring over photographs and the notes she had written beside them. It was important to her that her grandchild knew their heritage, and so she would spend large portions of our time together teaching me just who so many of our family members were. As a child, this simply seemed like something my grandmother just did, it was as much a part of our exploration of the photographs as anything as was.
As an adult, I’ve come to realize that this was most likely her way of trying to recall her friends and family. Upon that realization, came another one: As memories begin to fade, photographs can act as a lifeline for those suffering from cognitive failure. These pictures can help to trigger recollections and evoke emotion. The visual cues provided by photographs may stimulate the cognitive processes, sparking connections to past experiences and loved ones.
Photographs can serve as a visual time capsule; a way to preserve history in the blink of a shutter.
With a camera, milestones can be recorded; from the first steps of a child to the blissful union of two souls, from the purchasing of a couple’s first home, to the passing from this life to the next. These milestones can be captured through the lens.
The profound joy, the silent reflection-all etched into the visual narratives of one's life.
For example, the picture above showing a family at the dinner table.
On the back of this picture are the words, "The Empty Chair".
Years after having first seen the photo, I learned that this empty chair was so much more than a vacant piece of furniture. This was my paternal grandfather’s chair, and this photo was taken on the first holiday after he passed.
Though this photo might initially evoke sorrow, it can also be a great source of comfort. In the moment and in the pain, this empty chair reminded them of the one who is no longer here. But as the family looks back upon this photo in the years to come, it serves as a reminder that just as this season of grief passed, every other time of sadness shall pass too.
As families grow, change, and mature, empty chairs become full again, tears of sorrow become tears of laughter, and scars become scabs that remind us of all we have been through . A recorded photo like the one pictured above can be a reminder that no matter how hard things become, they won’t always stay that way.
Photographs are integral threads in the tapestry of genealogy, connecting generations with an invisible but powerful bond. Passed down from ancestors to descendants, these images carry the weight of familial history, creating a tangible bridge between the past and present.
I challenge you to go through your family history to see what you turn up. Maybe you will discover why you are so musically inclined, or why one sibling has blonde hair, and the other sibling has red. Have fun, learn, and enjoy your history. You never know what you might find out.