Reflecting on Photos

"A little girl with her small brother strapped on her back gives us a glimpse of life in the mountains of Peru, especially for children.For me it stirred lots of memories, mostly good, but also some sad ones..."

I found those lines to be striking and true. Fr Leo Donnelly's article 'WHAT’S IN A PHOTO?' made me reflect on how photos could keep memories lasting and fresh. We could feel some portion of our history through the images and even emotions that were immortalized by photos. Our past could be reminisced once again as I had personally experienced going back to my younger years after taking a look in our old albums. With pictures we can always have another and many more chances of recalling the laughter's and the tears, the memorable events and occasions in our life that could remind us of our growth and the most embarrassing moment that we can learn lessons from.

In the story, we could read that a photo can stir the memories of how ‘Shining Path’ terrorists took away lives of innocents.In my reflection, the photo has just reminded us to pray for the lives of those who were killed and for those people whom they have left behind: Lucia Ricaldi, mother of two infant daughters; the parents of Yachaychin brothers and the father of their cousin; the wife who was killed when he went to the defense of her husband; the parents of their three catechists; the eleven other people who were also assassinated; and the 32 people who were killed by Shining Path, including Australian Sister of St Joseph, Irene McCormack. That photo reflected their memories but it is our own living hearts that will make their memories alive...As for me, after looking at the photo of that little girl with her small brother strapped on her back, I was able to feel the life of the children in other parts of the world and as well as how an older sister could become a real sister to her younger brother. In the photo, their was also an expression of love and responsibility between them and in them.

I believe that photos can speak a lot whether they are taken in a candid or in a rehearsed shot. Try spending a little time uncovering the already dusty photo albums and frames in your closet and witness yourself lavish those memories of yours once again. Then, one more thing, the next time somebody prepares his camera, be sure to capture the real moment...1...2...3...smile. What a perfect angle!