If I go through all of my possessions, I find I really could discard most of them and it wouldn’t bother me all that much. Sure, some of the things I own are “necessities”, but the majority are really possessions of convenience. Even if they are necessity or convenience items, they are mostly replaceable.
And then there are a few things that fit in the category of “memorabilia”, those items that bring back a special memory, a vacation souvenir, a child toy, maybe even a dog collar.
Confession: I just can’t resist those machines you find in various vacation spots where you put in two quarters and a penny, and it flattens the penny into a souvenir. I know, it’s kind of goofy, but I like those. They aren’t just some trinket that was actually made in China. They are actually made right there, in front of me, at the moment when I was standing there in that spot. I have collected about 20 or so over time.
Another thing that is uniquely “made right there” is a photograph, and that is what I love about photography. A photograph “captures a moment in time”, embraces it, and hangs onto it for me. When I want to go back to that moment in time, all I need to do is look at that photograph again.
When it comes to that question of what possessions I truly value, the photographs are the ones I could never discard, nor could I ever replace them. They are about the only possessions I have that I could honestly say are “priceless” to me.
Some of my priceless photographs aren’t even priceless because they take me back to a memory in my life. They reach even farther back in time, prior to my life.
That photo I posted, for example, is a photograph of my mom when she was a little girl. I believe it was taken by her dad who was a professional photographer almost a century ago.
I love photography because it tells our life story. In the end, when we leave this world, virtually ALL of our possessions, the “necessities” and the “convenience” items, are most worthless to others … except for the photographs. I love having that photograph of my mom.
Some of the photographs you take today may become priceless possessions to someone else later on. What a gift. You can create something “priceless” by simply pressing a button at the right time. That is even better than a flattened penny.
Some day, when I leave this world, my flattened penny collection may become worthless to others, but some of my photographs will live on.
Remember the importance of the photographs you take. They are the story of the lives of the people you love. They are priceless.
Happy Picture Taking,
Kevin Gourley
