We find ourselves in a digital age that includes the instantaneous capture of imagery and video in exquisite detail and clarity, in unprecedented quantities for ubiquitous viewing. Remarkable. In a not too distant past an artist would capture in pencil or paint images that would present a picture to a reader or if reprinted, maybe viewed by many others at a postal delivered date, or newspaper, and possibly for kept for posterity. Images were for capturing a moment, capturing an idea and capturing a personality and they were precious to certainly a few, and in rare cases to the many. Later with the advent of photography, we still relied on an artist to accomplish in less time than one could sketch or paint to capture imagery, but the intent was still to ensure the moment, the memory, and personalities were captured mostly for prosperity, possibly for communication, and even entertainment. In most recent history, we were blessed with photography and cinematography that could be made available by both the professional as well as the amateur for the enjoyment and benefit of masses of people through replication, and through analog communication technologies, such as television. Overall remarkable progress in less than 200 years. However, in the last decade we’ve enjoyed digital cameras built into smart phones, we’ve seen digital storage means and social communication forums that extend not just the professional, but all amateurs, the right and privilege of mass communication.
Wonderful technology. Grandparents can see distant grandchildren as they grow. Ideas can be illustrated and communicated for the purpose of learning. Millions are entertained, with little effort, even going to the movies is not necessary, they come to you. Distant relationships can be maintained, loved-ones are always virtually connected. Yet do we value this technology and capability in the same way we did when it wasn’t so easy to wait for film to develop, when it meant something to see another’s photo album, when pictures in the mail were a special treat?
How about the joy of a postcard from faraway, with precious few handwritten words to read of some loved-one’s travels? Some of you who read this won’t remember those days, and may never then appreciate the convenience of the technology at your figure-tips. But then you will never have the same level of appreciation for how much effort others went through to capture images and thoughts, and ideas to share. How much more intimate is a letter and a photograph in the mail versus a pic and a note on Facebook? One took hours and some expense to express, the other a few seconds and much less than a penny. Well then again maybe not. Maybe because we now have hundreds, even thousands of pictures from our ever-present camera phones to sift through. Consider the energy and time to pick the right ones for sharing. Consider the pressure of constant sharing, because it’s supposed to be easy is a similar expression of consideration and even love, but is it personal? It seems quite anti-personal communication. Yet us viewers have the social obligation to at least hit the “like” button!
Recently I was looking through some photos my Mom found in an old trunk she had. That trunk may have been 200 years old, but the photos were of her, her Mom and Dad and other family members. Beautiful to see perfect glossy, artful pictures of my grandparents when they were very young, and my Mom as a child. Even a letter from my Grandfather to my Grandmother from 1944, during a period of separation. Worry about her working in a munitions factory, missing her, encouraging her to get a new record by Ella Fitzgerald and the Ink Spots, ‘I’m Making Believe’. Interesting insights to the people they were, the times, with even a view to handwriting and evident emotions. I wonder if someday in the future will it be possible to stumble on to the digital version of a trunk of pictures, of words, ideas and emotions. Will it be possible to find in the billions of terabytes those insights, pictures, maybe even this blog? Well at least if we can discover there is a reason for interest, we can even listen to Ella and the Ink Spots version of ‘I’m Making Believe’ from 1944 preserved digitally! And we can even “Like” it!