History and photography go hand in hand don’t they? Whatever is photographed will in some way live on forever. A photograph is sort of a portal to a time in the past. Sometimes a very long time ago, and sometimes just yesterday. And for a photographer, especially for me, a single photo can be like time travel. It brings me back to that exact moment. Sometimes to the point where I can remember certain smells or even what I was feeling at that moment. And I even have a certain connection to the past that is almost like I was once there, or a part of it. I can look at photographs from before I was born and it gives me a feeling of great reverence and belonging. So when I look at a photo such as the one accompanying this post of the Bailey’s Estate that once stood here in my hometown of Taunton Massachusetts, it gives me a sense of wonder, curiosity, respect, admiration for a time gone by. This majestic structure was torn down in the 70’s to make way for the now present Taunton High School. Why anyone would not try to preserve a building such as this escapes every part of my comprehension. It was stately, grand, mystical, ethereal even. My only solace is that it was photographed and suspended in time, hopefully never to be forgotten. Photography does this. It preserves a snapshot of a particular moment in history, preserved for future generations to enjoy a very long time into the future. And that is one reason why I love photography so mech. Hopefully you do too.
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