On Wednesday I had a very important appointment in my diary. Coffee with my Granny. My Granny lives in Strand and has for many years. She is a wonderful woman and I love her dearly! Every time I shoot a wedding I realise how scarce it is to still have grandparents around and how lucky I am to still have a granny close by.
I never knew my grandfather. He died soon after my parents’ wedding day. My grandmother remarried years after and now we know her husband as uncle Charles. They care for one another in the most beautiful way and we all love them very much.
On Wednesday they came over for tea. As we were chatting I remembered that my aunt gave me a box full of old photos that I wanted to show my Granny. The albums were filled with my Granny’s wedding photos, photos of my mom and my aunt while they were growing up as well as my Grandfather’s birth certificate. The photos were ‘old school black and white’ and many of them were not very clear. But still they carry loads of meaning.
I handed the photos over to my grandmother and her face immediately lit up. She couldn’t believe I had all those photos. She mentioned that she hasn’t seen them in years and then she started paging through them and told us all the stories.
It made me realise once again how much photos mean. How much emotions it can evoke. How it can take you back to places you’ve forgotten about and how it reminds you of people that were a part of your life story.
As I watched my grandmother, I secretly snapped a few photos, because this was a moment I had to remember. I had to capture it for two reasons. I wanted to remember my Granny in this way. Happy, excited and beautiful. And I also wanted to remember how, watching her page through those albums, with a smile, made me realise what photos can do for people.
I’m blessed to know that what I do, will one day help people to remember their stories. Remember those emotions and remember all the people that helped them write their stories.
I once again realised that I take photos, but with them, I write stories.
Sjoe, hierdie is so spesiaal.
Kry ek nou ‘n baie groot knop in my keel!!!
Wow! Dis special! My ouma’s bly ook in die Strand, verlang nou sommer baie!! :(
Such a powerful and touching post, love it!
This is so special. It is true what you say – each picture tells a story and unfortunately, those stories are only remembered by those that know them. That is why I feel so strongly about preserving my family’s history by finding out all the stories behind the photo’s and then recording the story either by digitally scrapbooking them or actually record my granny telling me the story. That way I get to find out more about the people in the photo’s AND I have a recording of my granny’s voice which I can keep forever.
(Incidentally, my gran also lives in the Strand!) :)
Koester jou liewe ouma elke dag en gaan kuier so gereeld soos wat jy kan. My dierbare ouma is Desember op die ouderdom van 89 skielik oorlede. Sy en oupa sou die 31 Des. 64 jaar getroud gewees het. Oupa het in Feb. 92 geword en bly nog in die huis waarin my pa groot geword het. Het nou die dag op ‘n kaartjie afgekom waarin ouma geskryf het sy bid dat Mr Right oor my pad sal kom. Dis nou veilig in my Bybel en ek en Mr Right is baie gelukkig :-) En neem sommer baie foto’s van jou ouma. My ouma het altyd geprotesteer as ek foto’s neem, maar nou is elke foto goud werd.
Christine, this is such a beautiful, sentimental blog post. Thank you for sharing your life and your work with the world.
I am honered to know tannie Christine and oom Charles. Thanks Chris10, you are touching people’s hearts in the way you portray your art. Reminds me that you can only take two things with you after this life: Children and memories. Groetnis
Dis waaroor fotografie gaan! Jy lê dit pragtig vas. Ons geniet jou website. Hou so aan. Lydia se skoonma
such a gorgeous, meaningful and special post!