Photographs help us make sense of our own lives too. Part of our human struggle is to make sense of our lives. What did we do while here and what are we leaving behind? Who have we taught? What have we impacted? In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury wrote, “Everyone must leave something behind when he dies […] A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you’re there. It doesn’t matter what you do […] so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that’s like you after you take your hands away.”
Our pictures often show these instances of our impact. They help us look back on what our lives have meant.
Important moments that represent achievements in our lives are often times that we have our picture taken (or take pictures of our loved ones during their shining moments). In childhood, in addition to birthdays and holidays, other times our photos are taken are at times of achievement (winning a soccer game, spelling bee, or performing at a first concert), or at times of initiation into a new social (new girl scout badge, first day of school) or spiritual (confirmation, bat mitzvah) moment in our lives.
Being the star of a picture often occurs at times of a rite of passage.
As we grow older, these pictures often come to occur in times of academic or career achievement. Or the addition of family milestones as families expand with new members.
When you look back at your pictures, you can easily see the chapters of your life, and how they accumulate to communicate your legacy and your values. Pictures are interpretations of our life.
