When I visited Thailand, I managed to bring back one or two more practical items - Photographs of monks/buddha’s which I’ve had framed and are now hanging in my lounge and then a few ornamental type things. Since then, I’ve added to the “Thai” theme with items I’ve found in Cape Town. During a trip to Greece, while in Athens I found some small stone type ornaments, so they too joined the collection of items from abroad.
Quite enjoying the trip down memory lane these items jogged, I went through one or two photo albums…. And then I started to get carried away and began photographing photo’s and souvenirs, all the while thinking that it’s such shame about all the things we forget. While we know where we’ve been and what we’ve seen, we forget the details far too quickly.
I love that I have taken a photograph of the Acropolis – it’s the cover of a coffee table book in my lounge – I see it daily. I forget however, to get the photo, I woke up early and walked to the underground, battled through the masses on their way to work, did the 20 minute walk from the station and had almost melted by the time I was ready to take the picture – All of this before 9am. It was easily the hottest I have ever been in my life.
While going about my daily business, I forget about the raw beauty of Thailand, the quiet of the temples, the kindness of its people – all of which I’ve had the privilege of experiencing.
The history of London, the fascination of Buckingham Palace or the amusement of finding functional red telephone booths that aren't just for show versus the vastness of America, the fantasy of Disneyland, the thrill of a baseball game or walking down Hollywood Boulevard and who hasn’t imagined what the Californian coast would look like? Thanks Baywatch. - Even while typing this, I'd forgotten about the madness that is Tijuana, Mexico.
Of course you don’t need to go that far to forget details… uShaka Marine World in Durban and Sun City in Johannesburg are also filled with details you’re likely to eventually forget!!!
It took looking through an album of a holiday in Australia to remember that Digital Cameras didn’t always exist and quality wasnt always good - Evidence below ;)
I recall a visit to Sea World – I was in awe of the Dolphins – they swam right in front of you. I used an entire spool trying to get the perfect shot with my little Kodak camera. That said, an entire spool was only 24 photographs – but it was a big deal and expensive to develop. I used every single shot trying to get that photo and when I look at the album, it seems I didn’t :( The Camera couldn’t even zoom – Ah, to be young and naïve.
I seem to have rambled on. My point is – At times we forget the detail and don’t always carry it all with us… The memory however is there, and that’s why I love photographs…. They serve to remind you.
Take plenty photographs so that when you feel like re-living the memory, you can.
Just as importantly, allow others to take photographs of you! Forget about your hair, or what you're wearing, or why you shouldnt be in the picture. There are so many excuses. The next time you're ready to make one, instead, just relax and smile. Make a memory or be a part of someone elses.
