Tag Archive: History

Photos Can Tell You So Much

If you’ve been reading this blog long enough, you have to know I’m insanely passionate about photography. Photos have a certain truth to them. They capture the moment. They capture a snapshot in time. When you look at a photo of someone smiling, there can be no denying that there was a smile. Photos can tell us when someone was happy or sad. They can tell us if the sky was blue or filled with storm clouds. Photos can tell us who we were sharing our time with…and who we elected not to include.

Of course, how we remember a situation, a day or an event often differs from what the photos seem to say.  There’s always something interesting about looking at “old” photos.  They fill in the gaps in our memories and help to tell a story…the real story…the real truth.  When you dig through a photo archive, be it at a museum, someone’s yearbook or their collection of photo albums (digital and real), you can learn a lot about a person.  I often find myself surprised with the photos people hold on to.

Yes, photos don’t lie , they tell us so much and that’s why I’m passionate about photography.  What do your photos say about you?  Do they tell the truth as you remember it?

Reframing What You Think You Know

“The children had stones already. And someone gave little Davy Hutchinson few pebbles.

Tessie Hutchinson was in the center of a cleared space by now, and she held her hands out desperately as the villagers moved in on her. “It isn’t fair,” she said. A stone hit her on the side of the head. Old Man Warner was saying, “Come on, come on, everyone.” Steve Adams was in the front of the crowd of villagers, with Mrs. Graves beside him.

“It isn’t fair, it isn’t right,” Mrs. Hutchinson screamed, and then they were upon her.”

That was the last few passages from the GREAT short story, The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson.  People generally believe that winning the lottery is a great thing.  But, what happens when the lottery winner is the person that is stoned to death, as is the case in The Lottery?

We generally believe that options are a good thing because they provide opportunity and choices.  But, what happens when the person you love sees you as an option and won’t accept your proposal?

Lying is supposed to be bad, but isn’t it ok to lie to protect a surprise?  Quitting is something that shows weakness, unless of course you’re quitting cigarettes.  Trust your parents, because they have your best interest in mind, well unless your parent is Michael Lohan.

To advance the ball forward, assuming forward is a good thing, we need to start reframing what we think we know.  We need to challenge the beliefs we hold close to home.  It’s only when we stop accepting things for we’ve been told they are, they we can start creating things that stand out.

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Head of Social Media at Walgreens. Interactive marketer, innovator, boat rocker, continuous learner, movie lover, risk taker, dad and all around good guy. I'm always up for a spirited conversation. These are my thoughts and ramblings, not those of my employer.
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