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October 12, 2007
to leave a mark for posterity
Amateurs and professionals are motivated to take pictures for pretty much the same two basic reasons: to save a part of the world for themselves, and to same a part of themselves for the world. The inherent poignancy in any photograph, whether a Stieglitz or a family memento, entails both the private memory it tries to preserve, by stopping time, and also the hope, however tiny or even unconscious on amateur’s part, that something interesting might result in expression on the face of a beloved relative or in some other serendipitous gem captured when the camera’s shutter is released. Memory and hope, past and future: snapping a picture with a Kodak, like painting a picture with a brush and canvas, is a way to leave a mark for posterity, a trace of oneself.
Michael Kimmelman - The Accidental Masterpiece
Posted by amin at October 12, 2007 12:01 PM