Prior to the availability of digital photography, photo albums were the only way we could save and value our most precious memories. Creating a photo album isn't just about arranging pictures. It can convey a thousand emotions.
There was excitement when we dropped our film rolls at the photo studio for printing. We had to wait seven to ten days to get the photos back. For those who grew up in the pre-digital photo era, film photography was a far more nostalgic experience than the instant digital image we get nowadays. Mr Mazedul Islam, an MTO at a renowned private bank, pointed out why photo albums and printed photographs used to be so exciting.
"It's the number that makes the difference. I remember taking ten photographs at best in a year in my childhood. But now we take ten photos a day, maybe. Abundance could be the reason of apathy to photos. A photo album with 100 photos carries much stronger emotions and nostalgic values than a smartphone gallery with several thousand photos."
Photographs can preserve a moment in time and portray a wide range of emotions. Photographs provide a way of communicating with the past. They don't need to use words to tell a tale. Old photos make viewers feel something, whether it's happiness, sadness, hatred, or love. When one sees a photograph, one can relive the moment. It's like a time machine that allows us to go back in time and revisit those moments.
Photo albums are not just bunches of photos together. It's a collection of memories and emotions. The experience of looking through old photo albums is always bittersweet. Every picture has happiness, love, laughter, and occasionally melancholy. People feel sad because it reminds them how fast time flies away. It also occasionally brings back memories of loved ones we have lost.
"It's like turning the pages of a classic book. Each photo would open a new chapter, and having them in hand, their touches, make it even more special," added Mr. Mazed.
Photo albums are more than pieces filled with private memories; they are treasures passed down from generation to generation. They capture the essence of familial bonds, linking the past, present, and future. As time passes, these albums create real links to the family, preserving their stories and memories.
Images emerge on screens as fleeting pixels in the digital world. They enable quick access, which enables us to take an endless number of pictures. But a lot of the time, this independence creates detachment. Digital photos lack the profound engagement and emotional connection that physical albums offer. The emotional impact of each digital image may be diminished if you quickly scroll through a gallery, giving the encounter a temporary sense. Printed photo albums create sentiments of intimacy and nostalgia.
Md. Ashikuzzaman, an assistant engineer at Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company, Cumilla, shared his thoughts with this writer. He said,
"Back in the day, before the era of digital cameras or smartphones, our reliance rested solely on film-based cameras. My parents always made sure we had a new film roll ready for any special occasion, such as Eid, birthdays, or picnics."
"In contrast, we take a lot of photos nowadays, but we rarely look back at them. However, in those days, though our photo collection was limited back then, we found ourselves repeatedly flipping through them over the years. Our childhood memories, as well as images of our grandparents when they were young, are preserved solely in printed form. When we want to remember the good old days, these printed photos are our only link to the past."
As a child, the wait for photo prints felt excruciatingly long. However, when we received the printed photos, the outcome was fantastic. No other emotion compares to that of joy. Even today, a photo album has more emotional value than digital photos.
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