Photo Albums

Just yesterday I talked about many things that I cherish. These include my collections of books, watches, CDs and tarot decks. But today we have a subtle twist to it. I want to consider the belongings I hold most dear, that is, things that carry some sentimental value. Those definitely would include my photo albums.

Moving from analogical…

There was a time when pictures were a real treasure. They were physical, printed on paper. Above all, they were unique. Even if you made copies, there were imperfections and microscopic traces that could tell them apart. They were not exact copies like the files we have for the digital ones. You needed to take shots and wait to fill the film before you sent them to be revealed. Then you would need to wait a few days. After taken, that was it, there were no filters, no do-overs, no corrections, no Photoshop. And you paid good money to have them.

… to digital pictures

Today it’s all too easy, and I am not complaining about it. I love that we can snap as many shots as we want. We can correct lighting, color, and exposure. We can apply filters and basically redo the entire picture after it’s taken. But willing or not, I still have an old mentality. I stop before taking the shot, I frame the subject. I wait a few seconds. Then, something happens, like a smile, a look, or a toss of the head. Only then I press the button.

They are still my treasure

So, when I take a few pictures, it’s for something that is important to me. Their value goes beyond what is on the paper or my cell phone screen. It’s a moment of happiness that I want to capture. Or the token of friendship that I want to remember later. It can be a trip that I want to relive, a sunset that I know won’t repeat again.

I know that nowadays pictures are not tangible like the ones we had in the analogical era. For me, they still are. Whatever the case, my photo albums are among the belongings I hold most dear.