Dear Photograph

To me, nothing can tell a story like a photograph. In a split second, life is trapped—a bit of history is captured, time stops, and the moment lives forever. A video almost tells too much—with a photograph, there is a little mystery.

For years I collected old photographs I found at various antique shops, flea markets or yard sales. I first started collecting vintage wedding photos, but then others would grab my attention for no other reason than a sentimental tug at my heart because of one of the subject’s expression or a scene in a photo that struck a chord with me. I always felt sad seeing a stack of photos on a shelf in a store, miles away from family members, seemingly untethered from all the connections, lost in time. How did a beautiful wedding photo of someone beloved get completely lost from everyone within the branches of that family tree? With no names on the photos, and no way to trace the time or place, the faces staring back at me remained a permanent mystery.

This week on Facebook, a new site popped up for me to view, referred to me by etsy.com. The name of the site is Dear Photograph, and shows old photos superimposed in the same locations in present time. Readers are asked to submit photos and take a step back in time and remember. It is such a simple, beautiful, nostalgic idea. Just like all the old photographs I love-- my own and those I have purchased-- the moments captured are priceless and haunting.

The site is getting some well-deserved attention and press this week, and I cannot wait to see it grow. My husband and I have both shared some photos we want to revisit, and plan to go back to the beach where we had our wedding photos each year and find the same spot and get a photo taken so we can celebrate each new year together. I know this site will inspire more things like this from all the readers. What a fantastic, simple idea.

Visit Dear Photograph by clicking here.

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Eight Years

David Filipov looks for a picture of his father, Al Filipov, at the Tribute WTC Visitor Center in New York City. The center is run by the September 11th Families Association as a museum and memorial to the victims and history of the World Trade Center and the 9/11/2001 attacks. Filipov's father was on American Airlines Flight 11, the first plane flown into the towers. (Scott Lewis)

I have struggled to find words to write here today. So, I have decided to let one of my favorite photo sites, The Big Picture, do the talking for me.

It is hard to believe it has been eight years.

Please check out their moving tribute here.

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A Beautiful Mystery Solved

During the year 2000, I was fortunate to make two trips to Paris. My first trip was in May, and was the trip that made me fall in love with the City of Light. Before I had left for Paris, a friend had asked me to bring her back a particular perfume by Annick Goutal. Once I arrived, I found the address of the boutique and made my way there. I ended up falling in love with the perfume myself, and made the sales person in the shop very happy that day.

I will always be thankful to my friend for two reasons. Helping me discover Eau d'Hadrien, and for leading me (without knowing it) to one of my favorite memories of my trip. As I walked out of that boutique, I made a right turn and wandered into such a glorious surprise. There in the center of a circle of amazing buildings were the most unique and wonderful sculptures I had ever seen. The statues were incredibly tall, I can't do justice in explaining how they towered over everything. But I remember when I first walked into that plaza and saw them, I was awestruck. I couldn't even move for a few seconds. They were gorgeous and I never would have known they were there were it not for my friend's request.

I took so many pictures of these sculptures, and I tried desperately to find out more information about the artist. But I couldn't find anything near or around the pieces.

I had all my photos developed in Paris and when I got those particular pictures back, I was so pleased with them. They are still my favorite pictures from my trip. (A few are pictured above).

For all these years, I have never known about the artist-- who it was, or anything about the sculptures.

Then, tonight, I followed one of my regular habits, checking the Paris Daily Photo blog. I hadn't been there in a few days, so I scrolled down to see the last few listings. And there, in one of the photos, was one of the statues from the exhibit I had seen. I was so excited, I could barely stand it. I clicked on the post, which listed the artist's name, Louis Derbré, and that led me to his website. All of his work is amazing, but I am so thrilled to have solved a nine-year-old mystery. I love when the internet works like this--making connections, solving mysteries--just the good things.

I also love the world of blogging that I have become a part of. There are so many things I have learned and experienced because of my fellow bloggers, and I will always be grateful I took the steps to enter this medium.

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Eye on the Sky

This picture is one of National Geographic's photos of the day. I just love this shot--the uniqueness of the hot air balloons in an unexpected place, the lion observing in wonder from far away, the whole thing is just beautiful. I have to wonder what that lion is thinking!

Here is the original caption for the photo:

While riding in the tracking car, following commercial hot-air balloons filled with paid riders in the Serengeti (Tanzania), we found that we didn't appear to be the only ones keeping an eye on the sky. This female lion traveled slowly in front of us for quite some distance, but finally turned and glared back at us, then within a few seconds, totally disappeared into the nearby brush.

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Say Cheese (or Cheesy)

My latest online guilty pleasure is viewing the gallery of family moments caught on film and put on display for the world to see on the site Awkward Family Photos. Thank goodness family photos have evolved from the standard group shot/gray backgrounds I remember sitting for countless times growing up. However, even some more recent photos are a little scary (the family straddling the tree limb for example). Anyway, enjoy and laugh. I have included just a few of my favorites, there are plenty more, and the site is only going to grow! Check it out here.

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A Year in the Making

What does it mean to love someone? Poets, authors, scholars, and songwriters have been asking that question and trying to answer it for centuries. Does it mean all the things the Hallmark cards say? Does it mean different things to different people?
For me, there are few examples out there, and I do lose heart a little bit. I was a romantic at one point in my life, and somewhere along the way became a cynic.
But I know one love story to be true. Matt Logelin loved his wife Liz. This isn't a sappy-mushy love story, but instead one of those that makes you think soulmates are possible, and that really good guys do exist.
Sadly, Matt an Liz didn't have their completely happy ending. As many of you know that follow Matt's blog, Liz died one day after giving birth to their daughter Madeline last year. But in that year, so many of us have followed Matt's words as he grieved, cried, hurt and triumphed, and in the meantime, raised his daughter. He also started a foundation in his wife's name. His words are always profound or funny, witty or painful, but his love of Liz is impossible to miss. He loved her every year he was with her, and recalls their life with such tenderness, and his loss with such magnitude.
The video above was posted on his blog--a photographer friend of his took her one-year photos, as her husband took video shots to make the short film above. I have watched it several times (you HAVE to have the sound on--it makes it), and I am so happy to see Matt so happy, and to see the love between him and Madeline. (It also makes me ache to be a better photographer! Gina is amazing!)

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Leaves of Change

I have been saying for months now that I would go to Asheville, and every weekend, I would change my mind or something would happen. Finally today, I got up early and headed to one of my favorite spots. The drive was even shorter than I remembered- just under two hours.

The leaves are beautiful this year, more vibrant than I remember in a long time. But, my two favorite reasons to go to Asheville are to go to The Grove Park Inn--just to walk around and soak in the beauty and history, and then to the New Morning Gallery. If you have never been to either one, put it on your "must" list, wherever you live.

A great day, fabulous weather, in a beautiful town, all good.

To see the rest of my photos from today, click here.

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The Big Picture

I am still on an Obama high, so thrilled with the election results. I have been so exhilerated to read the comments all over the internet on blogs and websites of Americans so full of hope and high expectations. The words they write are so different than I remember ever reading in my lifetime about the election of a president. I read them with such joy--I believe we are at a turning point.

I am saddened, however, that Prop 8 was not defeated in California. We are making steps in the right direction, I know. The election of an African American president, what a historic moment. But, rights for everyone, equality for everyone... it saddens me that there were still so many people in California that voted yes on Prop 8.

Now, the title of my post, The Big Picture, refers to a site I love visiting. It is on the Boston Globe's site, and features absoultely amazing photographs. They update it all the time. It is always timely, sometimes shocking, sometimes breathtakingly beautiful. Today's feature was, of course, our new president. Take a peek, and keep checking back. You won't be disappointed!

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