Capturing a Moment in Time

I love capturing a moment in time. My memory is not as sharp as it once was, but a picture capturing some special moment brings vivid images to my mind about how I felt when the picture was taken.

One thing through the years that I’ve always enjoyed is picture taking. Yes, the medium has changed from snap cameras and more elaborate cameras with zoom lenses and different speed film to what we have today ~ advanced smartphones with the ability to take top notch pictures digitally as well as fully digital cameras with lots of options for a more professional look.

Many of us use a digital medium to store those pictures as well. However, the old photo album holds a nostalgic place in history. Family albums of pictures from trips taken, those first steps of a child captured to the delight of all. Now mine are all stored away – not easily grabbed and looked at; not easily shared.

Flickr and Amazon are two I use, and I love that as I take pictures with my camera, they appear on my TV screensaver almost immediately.

However, there are times when I simply want a printed picture to hang on the wall. Yearly school pictures of my children, grandchildren; family photos when we get together once every year or so. Those are ways I continue to connect with family and the past I love to reconnect with.

News came today that Costco is closing down its Photo Centers come mid-February. This is one of the only places left where you can take your digital media in and walk away with pictures in short order. They also offer canvas, poster, and other size pictures that allow you to commemorate other events such as family picture Christmas cards.

When other photo labs left the business, maybe as long ago as ten years, I wasn’t too worried at the time knowing times were changing. However, occasionally I would have to be reminded that holding a picture in hand is something that’s a part of who I’ve always been. I do it less, but it’s still there in my memory.

Printing pictures on photo paper from my printer is costly. More costly than a photo lab. It’s doable, but it’s definitely not the same.

I like…printed pictures.