Saturday, August 21, 2010

Click!

I don’t like looking back or flipping through old photographs, period. I really don’t understand the big deal behind them. I know it bring backs a flood of memories of how cute we were or how blissful those times were. I understand how old photographs – maybe black and white, small… tiny actually, rounded edges, some hazy, some blurred, with lots of fingerprints on them – has us all reminiscing about old times, but sadly, not me. Call me complaining, but old pictures, according to me, should be where they are – in albums, all stored up in the box labeled “photos”, surrounded by cobwebs, deep down in the basement.

For me, looking at old photographs brings back a downpour of bad recollections. Don’t believe me, I can point out a number of reasons I stay away from “photographic nostalgia”.

Old pictures are filled with innumerable neighbors some long forgotten and some long lost. Every “picture session time” ends with my mum saying “You’re so selfish and cold, how come you don’t remember these people, these kids played with you in the colony park, these bought you presents on your fourth birthday, they lived in the apartment right across, they called you by your pet name, cried when we shifted to a new neighborhood and now, to listen to my own daughter simply forget them. What has the world come to?”

Then, there are the unmistakable “bad pose pictures”. For the lucky lot who never experiences such displeasure, let me divulge what that phrase means. “Bad pose pictures” as is obvious, is the perennial shot most likely associated with the some doomed un - photogenic lot, including me. Or is it that as kids, we pose in the most unspeakable manner there is to be. Whatever it was, it has me running for cover. There has to be a picture with oversized glasses, blowing off birthday candles (yes, that exact moment when your mouth is full of air), two ponytails standing like antennas, squinting in the sun or the classic shot wherein your aunt or whoever it was, dressed you like a lady, complete with sari, makeup and high heels and clicked away to glory. Looking at them now, I am all red faced, others around me are “Oh look at you, so foolish yet so cute”.

Oh, I could just go on about this, but don’t worry I won’t. Next time you flip through those captured moments, hope you don’t find reasons to abhor them like I do.

Also, I would like to take a moment to thank the architect of the digital camera. May you be blessed for having put the delete option… Amen

14 comments:

Faisal said...

A Nostalgia re-defined,ah...that definitely is, expression is more about telling the world what you feel about something, it's less about those thoughts which never saw the daylight & have been lying in the junkyard of our minds. thank god ! finally you took them out and told us all the untold...sometimes i do feel like that but i never had imagined this way, a very focussed & articulate presentation....keep writing, god bless !

Unknown said...

After reading your blog i realized what i used to think about such bad nostalgic things which i could never utter to anyone,but always felt within.you have worded the facts !!
it exudes a very good writing skill.
all wishes for you!!

Hajra said...

@ faisal bhai - u just dont know how thankful i am!!

@ taqseer - thank you so much for ur wishes,

Unknown said...

I never thought about pictures this way. whenever i use to come across any of my old albums i use to spend hours thinking about those days and where they will be now, remembering those good and bad moments.There are some pictures that cannot be shown to anyone because they are too embarassing.But after reading your blog i think you are right. I like the way you put those exact thoughts to words.

Unknown said...

very nice hajra, i like the way u write....

Hajra said...

@ kareema / Sameera apa - thanks :)

Ankita Verma said...

Hajra, you really have a way with words! You take the regular and make it wonderfully outstanding with your unique style and observation. Keep writing!! Best of luck!

kausar said...

hajra u r so wonderfully.i seriously becom a fan of ur writing.u r dee beers(diamond)alws shine like a diamond ...kausar Hayat (lucknow)

Unknown said...

i thik u shld stop takig sugar,2 much of sweet tokz r cumig ur way....;)by d way d bad pose pic cms jst becoz of d fact dat camera cant capture d real beauty.....itz in d eyes....i kno it sounds pathetic....bt im ur real admirer
bt jokes apart i really lvd it....

Hajra said...

@ ankita - i have always appreciated ur writing so u know ur opinion means a lot!!

@ kausar - aww... thanks so much *blush*

@ amrita - now ur being too sweet, thanks so much sweetie :)

Blog said...

awesome, I like the way you discussed this topic
try a camera with high pixel and adjust parameters ...I'm sure you will like it

Hajra said...

hey aznzar
thanks a lot!!
have tried all, i think the camera just hates me!!

Anonymous said...

To each his own, I guess. I treasure old photos. When asked what thing I'd save in a fire, I always photos. I also post 'em on Facebook for my friends to have a fuller picture of me, my past included. :)

Hajra said...

Thanks..
I treasure old photos too but somehow I just don't appreciate them as much. Good to know your perspective too.