I am a big believer in contextual photos. These are photos that we sometimes neglect, and even worse throw away when we go back through on pictures. We think that they are worthless in some way—they don’t show anybody. But! they show us places where we are…right now.
I have a folder in my military records that said:
“STOP! Don’t throw away! You may need this in 20 years.”
When I got out of the Army the first time, I thought I would never get back in and began to get rid of uniforms and other stuff. But, I held on to that folder. Three years later, when I applied to become an Army Chaplain—I needed it. It contained all of the records I needed to get back in.
With contextual pictures—they show context. In twenty years, the Dunkin Donuts will have changed their storefront. The Movie Theater and the Piggly Wiggly may move—leaving an unmarked building.
The pictures you’ve taken add context to your history. They are easy to take with cell phones and other quick cameras. Facebook gives you the option of sharing and checking-in along with the picture. We have a great opportunity to record our history better than ever before.
Take them, share them, and save them.
These photos were shot with with my Samsung Gravity Smart SGH-T589 Phone.