Capturing Joy: The Gift of Photographs in Cut Bank Pioneer Press

In 1822, the art of photography was introduced, marking an essential method of capturing moments in time and preserving memories. Images can assist us in recalling occurrences, conveying messages, and expressing our feelings. They enable us to comprehend history, culture, and the individuals within them. These representations serve as a preservation of time for future generations, freezing moments we can never reclaim.

Prominent photographers include Ansel Adams, celebrated for his stunning images of America’s natural landscapes, like Yosemite Park and the Grand Canyon. Many of his photographs were monochrome to highlight contrasts. Dorothea Lange is also renowned for her use of black and white images, capturing numerous scenes during the Great Depression; one of my most cherished photographs from her is titled “Migrant Mother.” My stepfather had a passion for history, and through him, I discovered Matthew Brady, who provided us with visuals of the Civil War, illustrating the tragedies of a time when our nation was divided. Nowadays, anyone can assume the role of a photographer as we capture moments on our phones, taking selfies or pictures of our surroundings.

At my residence, I possess numerous boxes of photographs that I have always planned to organize into albums. Some depict moments from my childhood as well as my husband, Chris’s; we often find amusement in pictures of me with missing front teeth or Chris sporting his afro hairdo, striped bell-bottom trousers, and a turtleneck shirt (which he absolutely detests).

I have images of my PawPaw and MawMaw when they were still courting, photos of him in his Marine Corps attire, and pictures of her donning a large sombrero.

On my classroom bookshelf, there are six framed photographs that gaze back at me, and I feel thankful to possess them. Among them is a small school photo of me taken when I was five years old. Due to many of my family pictures being lost in a house fire, I do not have a significant collection of my early years, so it is delightful to look at this and try to remember who my friends were then, what I might have been feeling, and to smile at my youthful innocence, believing everything was perfect.

I also have a picture of my Katie Belle as a teenager smiling at me, two separate Easter photos of my family (the first one taken before Drake experienced his growth spurt and surpassed both me and Chris in height, and the second with a new family member posing alongside us, as Chance joined our group that day). Lastly, one significant photograph on the shelf is a monochrome image of Chris and myself from 34 years ago as we posed for an engagement photo under a tree in his momma’s front yard – we were so young and could hardly fathom what the future held for us.

I have a fondness for vintage photographs, and I miss dropping off film for development at the store, eagerly tearing into the envelope of developed images to uncover the treasures inside. Oh, how times have transformed.

Some individuals enjoy recreating old photographs. Recently, I came across two on Facebook that brought a smile to my face. One featured my cousin Lee’s two sons, Chisum and Win. In the first image, both boys were small and cuddling a brown and white-faced baby calf wearing Christmas antlers, while the second one shows a similar scene but with a different calf and the boys now as young men.

The other was of one of my former principals, Mike Perry, alongside his youngest son. The initial photo depicted Mike cradling his newborn son, bundled in a baby blanket and wearing a little cap, while the following photo (perhaps a decade later) displayed Mike “holding” Logan, now wrapped in a larger blanket, wearing a bigger cap, and sporting braces. I couldn’t help but laugh upon seeing this recreation.

They say an image is worth a thousand words, but I feel it holds even greater value. A photograph encapsulates a lifetime of memories, filled with smiles, laughter, and tears. They allow us to reflect on challenges we have faced and overcome, and they present us with our history.

What are some of your most cherished photographs? Are you among the neat and organized individuals who have all your photos neatly stored in albums to browse through, or do you, like me, have to dig through boxes to find what you seek?

This week, if you find the time, take a stroll through your “files of history” and smile, for those memories, despite belonging to the past, never truly fade away.

I hope this week you can spare a moment to capture a photograph or two to seize a special occasion or even one that isn’t merely “ordinary” – just remember to say “cheese.”