But I can't delete it.
I've been going through lots of old images this weekend, trying to free up space on my hard drives. It's really got me thinking about how long to hang onto images, and for what purposes.
Take the above image, for instance. That's me, on the left, just after my graduation ceremony for getting my masters. One would think that this would have been such a joyful occasion...one of which to definitely have pictures to show future generations and what not. Yes. One WOULD think. However, my father, for whatever reason he had (some say sore throat, some say sore loser in life and general grumpy grumpster) at the time, did not show up. This was a big day in my life, and he CHOSE to miss it. This picture reminds me of the hurt that I felt when my mom told me he wasn't coming.
This image also reminds me that I no longer am even friends with the chick in the picture. Sure, I could crop her out, but keeping her in it makes it more powerful and more of a transportation mode to the past. Not all images produce warm and fuzzy feelings, but why should I curate my image collection to only have such moments? As a documentary style photographer, I prefer the truth. Sometimes it's harsh. Sometimes, it's downright ugly. But without seeing pictures like this from my past, I might not be able to realize how REALLY GOOD I have it today. It's all about the journey.
What are your thoughts on saving images from not so brilliant times?
I've been going through lots of old images this weekend, trying to free up space on my hard drives. It's really got me thinking about how long to hang onto images, and for what purposes.
Take the above image, for instance. That's me, on the left, just after my graduation ceremony for getting my masters. One would think that this would have been such a joyful occasion...one of which to definitely have pictures to show future generations and what not. Yes. One WOULD think. However, my father, for whatever reason he had (some say sore throat, some say sore loser in life and general grumpy grumpster) at the time, did not show up. This was a big day in my life, and he CHOSE to miss it. This picture reminds me of the hurt that I felt when my mom told me he wasn't coming.
This image also reminds me that I no longer am even friends with the chick in the picture. Sure, I could crop her out, but keeping her in it makes it more powerful and more of a transportation mode to the past. Not all images produce warm and fuzzy feelings, but why should I curate my image collection to only have such moments? As a documentary style photographer, I prefer the truth. Sometimes it's harsh. Sometimes, it's downright ugly. But without seeing pictures like this from my past, I might not be able to realize how REALLY GOOD I have it today. It's all about the journey.
What are your thoughts on saving images from not so brilliant times?
oh my. if i deleted all the pictures that had some under liying "darkness" to them i would have ZERO pics (for about a 12 year period). *wince*
(11.28.11 @ 10:22 PM)but i am with you. i have a sketchy thoughts about alot of images...they DO however serve as a reminder of how far i have come and that i AND chandler, by the grace of God, are alive, and well, and thriving, and dare i say....happy. :)
keep them...there is ALWAYS beauty among the ashes...always.
you have a freakin' masters- raspberries to people who didn't show or acted a fool afterwards. you STILL have your masters and they DON'T get to still have you! too bad for them!
i can totally relate to this... my rule is that if an image stirs up an uncomfortable feeling in me when i look at it, then i refuse to make it visible to me. it either stays stored away in the digital folder i found it in, or the print stays in a box somewhere very out of sight. every once in awhile when i go through my things, i revisit those ugly feelings and only a couple times have i actually thrown out the image because i was done processing those feelings and wanted to move forward. thanks for sharing your 'weird' photo and what it means to you... :o)
(11.15.11 @ 02:29 AM)i can totally relate to this... my rule is that if an image stirs up an uncomfortable feeling in me when i look at it, then i refuse to make it visible to me. it either stays stored away in the digital folder i found it in, or the print stays in a box somewhere very out of sight. every once in awhile when i go through my things, i revisit those ugly feelings and only a couple times have i actually thrown out the image because i was done processing those feelings and wanted to move forward. thanks for sharing your 'weird' photo and what it means to you... :o)
(11.15.11 @ 02:24 AM)Oh Kate. I'm torn. I have photos that are the same. Some fill me with sadness. Some are mixed. But I think that life is like that--mixed blessings. Maybe it's okay to have some of the bitter with the sweet? I know that sometimes I cringe about the pictures that I am in that I am sure make for a bittersweet memory for some people--weddings that I'm no longer friends with the person, exes that I'm in family photos of, etc. I think it's part of life. It does show you how you've grown. And don't let grumpy people decide how you're going to feel about something--that was a big accomplishment for you :) Love you Kate!
(11.14.11 @ 11:47 AM)Oh Kate. I'm torn. I have photos that are the same. Some fill me with sadness. Some are mixed. But I think that life is like that--mixed blessings. Maybe it's okay to have some of the bitter with the sweet? I know that sometimes I cringe about the pictures that I am in that I am sure make for a bittersweet memory for some people--weddings that I'm no longer friends with the person, exes that I'm in family photos of, etc. I think it's part of life. It does show you how you've grown. And don't let grumpy people decide how you're going to feel about something--that was a big accomplishment for you :) Love you Kate!
(11.14.11 @ 11:47 AM)