Bittersweet
To take full advantage of Flickr, you should use a JavaScript-enabled browser and
install the latest version of the Macromedia Flash Player .
About a year after my
Howie Day CD inexplicably started skipping and I thus stopped listening to it, it suddenly works again. Driving to work last week, I caught up on some of my favorite songs on that album, and while I enjoyed the experience for the most part, the song Numbness for Sound came out of nowhere and struck my heart a blow. I had used lyrics from that song as the post title for
the weblog entry that went with this photograph, back when it was
initially uploaded to flickr in December 2005. It was a beautiful day, but filled with bittersweet memories, even more so to recall it now, over a year later.
Part of the post that went with this photo:
But you've got to get out and live, no matter what the cost or the outcome sometime. And maybe, if this is all that life comes down to, even this would be enough: Walks around the lake, words exchanged with kind strangers in passing, the remembrance of those whom we've loved and lost and never stopped loving.
Related posts:
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
_____
My question: Do any of you have photographs that, like this, bring back bittersweet or heartbreaking memories for you, too? Or is your photostream (as mine mainly is) all about documenting only the joyous, the amusing, and the emotionless mundane?
Comments
Such an amazing picture... I remember reading
those entries and when that happened. I hope
the family is doing well today.
Posted 16 months ago.
( permalink
)
My photos dont bring back heartbreaking
moments, however they bring back memories.
Days gone by. My photos are basically what I
see. Yours mean something 2 U. We R all
different in that respect.
Smile a little will ya!
Peace.
Posted 16 months ago.
( permalink
)
I remember when the Dr. Attari thing was
going on, all the uncertainty, and then
finally the sadness. I definitely have
pictures that bring back the stuff you don't
always want brought back, but I don't think I
post them on flickr. I guess I try to keep
most of that stuff for/to myself - whether
that be a good or bad thing.
Maybe it's worth trying.
Posted 16 months ago.
( permalink
)
You have conveyed so much with so little.
What terrific economy.
Bittersweet memories. While pretty new to
the 'point and shoot' hobby, I can't say yet
what my Flickr photostream is, but it's not
yet populated with the Bittersweet. I guess
it's just an attempt to learn and
communicate. Never been much of a 'social
network' type... Actually I've traditionally
beem 'anti' toward these things.
Oh yes, I have photos that bring back
heartbreaking memories...Oh yes.
Thanks for the touching pause.
Posted 16 months ago.
( permalink
)
The things that really break my heart are out
there in the world and therefore
un-photographable. I confine myself to try
and keep happy - I am more useful that way...
Posted 16 months ago.
( permalink
)
Thanks for all the lovely comments, you guys!
I just threw the question out there, and it
was nice to actually get some feedback
(wasn't sure anyone would actually take me up
on answering it ;)).
Preeti: I've always liked this shot, too. Perhaps I
should print and frame and hang it. Need to
do something constructive with all these
pictures. Thank you for the good wishes re.
the Attari family. From what I know, the past
year has been horribly difficult for them.
Mr. Attari and his younger daughter just
recently returned from the holy pilgrimage, Hajj (you can see some beautiful photos on Hamza's photostream , too, since he was there this year as well),
and, from what I know from my sister, they
found some small measure of peace and comfort
from the pilgrimage, but it was still an
emotionally taxing journey for them.
Rokkin Foto: Thanks for the comment! We do indeed find
something meaningful in our own photos, as
well as those of others. Your "smile a
little, will ya!" made me laugh - I do
smile quite a lot; this was an attempt to be
a bit more serious for a change. =)
Hamza: Lots of uncertainty and sadness, for sure.
Re. posting the sadder stuff: Maybe it is
worth trying. I'd be interested in seeing
what you've got.
Rick: That must be the first time someone ever
told me I described something concisely!
Thank you. My approach to flickr isn't quite
defined either, but it seems (so far) I take
photos of random things around me because I
want to remember it later and/or think it's
worth sharing with others elsewhere (i.e. on
flickr). For the most part, I use flickr for
communicating and "hanging out" a
bit with all you crazy rockstars, too. =)
Posted 16 months ago.
( permalink
)
CDM: You said: I confine myself to try and keep happy - I am
more useful that way...
I am more useful that way, too, I think. =)
It's hard for me to focus on the bad things
going on in the world, and so I just focus
mainly on the glorious mundanity of my daily
life.
One of my favorite websites is called Three Beautiful Things . The author records three beautiful things
everyday, and this comment she made a while back reminded me of yours,
above: I think that there are enough records of the
painful, wrong things that go on in this
world, and there are people who are better at
spotting them and describing them than me.
Which is not to say, I think, that we
should just sit back and ignore the bad
stuff. But I think if we each made an effort
to acknowledge and share the beautiful
things, the world would seriously be a better
place. Maybe that's naivete on my part, I
don't know; I just try to take it one day at
a time.
This goes back to Rick's point re. what we use flickr for. I like the
social aspect, the community feel of it.
There are others who are far more methodical
and thought-provoking in their approach to
photography. I'm specifically remembering a series of links Hashim shared several months ago, and his comment about
witnessing life. There is also Stoneth/Tom Stone , who photographs the homeless in San
Francisco and shares their heartbreaking
portraits and stories on flickr. Definitely
check out his photos when you get a chance.
Posted 16 months ago.
( permalink
)
Thank you Yaz for taking so much time to
consider my comment. What I like about your
stream is it is just bursting with the joy of
life! Which doesn't mean that you don't have
your serious and even sad moments - we are
all only human! But the sunny things you
share make the world a happier place.
Posted 16 months ago.
( permalink
)
Would you like to comment?
Sign up for a free account, or sign in (if you're already a member).
This photo also belongs to:
Additional Information
© All rights reserved
This photo is public