Captured Memories
"When memory fails, photographs remember." This was written behind one of the photographs given to me by a friend decades ago. I have lost touch with her but she lives in my memory through her photograph.
The last few weeks in my maternal family whatsapp group we all have been on a nostalgic trip as my mama has been sharing treasured pics from old family albums and some of us would also add from our own albums. For every picture at least one of us would have a story to share and the conversation would continue. Coincidentally, few of my friends too shared some old pictures from the days of our youth and childhood. Old photographs are like Pandora box ; stories, memories, emotions are all stored in it. This is an activity which no family ever gets bored of. The old photographs do not have the resolution like that of today's pictures, but it has very close to heart memories which is irreplaceable.
Indeed, today what more can we do but recall beautiful memories preserved in photographs. Thanks to Google photos which keeps giving us digitalised throw back pics.
Photography, as a profession was not too popular 2 decades ago. In Kolkatta, I recall only one photographer uncle who would be seen in every wedding and function of the South Indian Community in South Kolkatta, where I grew up. The wedding albums of people married in 90s in South Kolkatta would have little variation, except ofcourse the people whose pictures are pasted in those albums.
When I left for my hostel in Pune, I was gifted with the Kodak camera and I was the only one in my hostel who owned a camera, so I have the treasured pictures of those two years. Once the camera roll of 36 films would finish we would take it to the Kodak shop to get it developed and printed and the
Rs.4.50p per photo seemed a lot of money, so every photograph was clicked with sufficient preparation. It was unthinkable then to own any fancy camera. Am glad that today many of us have the purchasing power to own high end cameras and shoot pictures which are not only a treasure for us but also for the world. Our photographs today don't just have human faces but we enjoy capturing the tiniest moment that brings joy, from animals, to a beautiful cloudy day to delicious icecreams. These are treasures for the future generations to enjoy too.
So, what are you waiting for???? Take out your camera and start clicking whatever you wish to. Years later it is these photographs that will give us a reason to smile and share a story.
Wonderful, the memories and stories repeated ten times and always it feels as if sharing for the first followed by teasing,laughter, and other feelings too. Each frame is a story. Though not for the future gen, to see ,enjoy and recall the moment.
ReplyDeleteColourful birds, gushing water, rain drops,rainbow 🌈 what not we have clicked to share.
Excellent blog Dr....while reading it, I can relate to many many fond memories...I am sure so will others who read this blog. पूरी दुनिया अपने अंदर समेट लाया, ये कैमरा भी कुछ फोटो खीच लाया.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! every photograph shot on those kodak cameras had a justification and a calculation if it was worth spending money on it to develop it :) Seems almost unimaginable in these days! So click click and let the memories live!
ReplyDeleteWow. What is captured through the lens remain as a great treasure to possess. Albums of marriages, important functions, travel, nature, wild life etc etc are always interesting to go through lateron, anytime .Of course the modern day gadgets like digital photography and storages like Google photos or gallery in a pc / laptop/ smartphone are excellent ones for anytime recall ! An excellent write-up
ReplyDeleteOften miss each one of them in an old frame and wish i get a chance to relive that moment again. Each of our old photo has a story behind and someone who understands it best is an old friend. Good you brought this up. Its lockdown here and that gives me time to browse through my golden days.
ReplyDeleteAwwww!! Being A very 'click happy' person, I proudly live up to the tag every single moment of my life. And who knows that better than you ...
ReplyDeleteMy clicks aren't all for posting and sharing, but simply for 'freezing' a moment that felt good, holding it as keepsake for posterity and savouring the nostalgia every now and then as life keeps rushing forward...
Rummaging through the treasure house of memories packed away in old shelves at my parents place during my annual trips home, is a therapeutic activity I indulge in every single time, much to their amusement.
For me, they aren't photographs alone... They are scrapbooks that remind us of an emotion and mood or moment felt once, that may not be so anymore. They are books that tell us precious stories about our own lives that we probably did not realise we were 'writing'. I can go on endlessly about my love for photographs. 36 Kodak prints or countless digital ones, photographs are all about immortalising life and revisiting it any time.
Thank you Vidu for this 'straight into the heart' piece!❤️
Wow , so so true...the old pics are like precious jewels, take us down the memory lane and reliving every moment....I feel that with the then Kodak & the precious 36 pic roll we would enjoy clicking every pic and cherish it...unlike today where it’s so easy to delete and redo.... charm lost...maybe I belong to the old school:)
ReplyDelete