A look back at now

I emerged from taking pictures at an electronics store into the bright afternoon glare of a mall parking lot. Momentarily stunned by the brightness, I then took in the cars and light poles, and thought: "This is important."

The scene's absolute ordinariness made it profound. The situation might not have struck me this way had I not recently had lunch at a clam shack. A photo of an oceanside clambake adorned a wall. There was nothing remarkable about the photograph: not the composition, not the quality of light, not the angle.

However, viewing the photograph 55 years after it was taken, the ordinary becomes historical and thus, "important." In the photojournalism business, we always look for a "news peg" (a timely angle) to hang a story on. Perhaps we need to document more of today's mundanities, thinking as well of future "historical pegs."

You've read 3 of 3 free articles. Subscribe to continue.
QR Code to A look back at now
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0522/p18s05-hfes.html
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe
CSM logo

Why is Christian Science in our name?

Our name is about honesty. The Monitor is owned by The Christian Science Church, and we’ve always been transparent about that.

The Church publishes the Monitor because it sees good journalism as vital to progress in the world. Since 1908, we’ve aimed “to injure no man, but to bless all mankind,” as our founder, Mary Baker Eddy, put it.

Here, you’ll find award-winning journalism not driven by commercial influences – a news organization that takes seriously its mission to uplift the world by seeking solutions and finding reasons for credible hope.

Explore values journalism About us