FAMILY PHOTOS

Being the family genealogist, ancestral photos are a huge passion of mine, as well as a treasure and a quest.  When I come upon, or distant cousins share, photos of our lines of ancestry it brings to life the names and places we've only read about or heard stories about.  

These photos are keys.  They unlock doors that answer even the simplest questions, like "why does my nose not resemble my parent's, where did it come from?"  In these photos are where many mysteries are solved.

Because cameras and film, in the past, were not always common or easy, photography was intentional.  Rarely was a random

photo shot, and when it was there were few.  Most photos were intentional - to capture forever the image of family, a child or children, a newlywed couple, generations, even a final farewell into the great beyond.

Through the years as photography became more available, we started seeing photos of people at their work, playing games, at church functions, anywhere there might be action.  These photos bring us closer to "who" the ancestors were as individuals - we can imagine what it would be like if we were to meet them today.  We are no longer confined to sit completely still for agonizing periods of time, waiting for the photos to process.  Photography becomes almost limitless. 

Photography is one of the great magics of all time!

Today - photography has lost some of its sacredness, if you will. With today's digital cameras, smart phones, and tablet computers, we no longer take photographs to preserve a memory, we do it because we can - and we do it more often than not.  I too am guilty.

As my Nikon sits idle these days my Droid X works overtime.  For shame!  An expensive camera that produces amazing photographs, which used to be "glued" to my hand, now collects dust on a shelf.  Oh, I do occasionally take it outside for use on a nature walk but it rarely leaves my home grounds.  That wicked smart phone has charmed me!  Its photos pale in comparison and yet I snap pics at the drop of a hat.  It's disgusting I tell you!

Regardless - whether it be the quality photos of the digital camera or the ease and compactness of the smart phone, the subject matter has become frivolous and the quantity obscene.  I now have literally thousands of photos, of which many are completely meaningless and a waste of virtual space!  How did this happen?  How could I let this happen?  My eyes are open and I will make changes.

What will the descendants think when they come across my stash of photos?  What will they learn about where they came from?  I hope they will recognize a period of sincerity preceding a period of gluttony, and ending with a burst of new magic!  I hope they will recognize themselves in the failures and triumphs of great-great-great-great-great Aunt Vicki.