Dear Photograph is a blog by Taylor Jones which started out with just six photos. But her simple yet powerful idea of holding up an old photo lined up to its original setting has struck a chord with so many people that, in the span of a few days, Dear Photograph has gone viral.
Of the hundreds of entries on the website, here are some of our favorites:
#1.
Dear Photograph,
I was astounded, but I hadn’t had time to consider what I was seeing.
Mark Yokoyama
#2.
Dear Photograph,
This is when I still had hair and my brother pooped himself. We were happy, but we didn’t know it.
Domenico
#3.
Dear Photograph,
Though I am taller than you now, I look up to you still as I did nearly twenty years ago.
Andrew
#4.
Dear Photograph,
I’ll always remember my first fish.
Brian Thurman
#5.
Dear Photograph,
There’s no place like home.
Lilleechace
#6.
Dear Photograph,
“No, ma’am, it’s not a boy in a dress, it’s a girl in a dress.”. The hair came, the dresses went, the park stayed.
Nomeda
#7.
Dear Photograph,
Fourteen years ago, you were more than just a memory. You were more than saved birthday cards and boxes of photo albums. Your clothes still hang in the closet and your toothbrush remains in the bathroom after all these months as if we are foolishly awaiting your return. If it weren’t for these souvenirs of the life you once possessed, I would have the hardest time deciding if you really once existed or if these thoughts of you are nothing more than beautiful figments of my sad imagination.
Nadia
#8.
Dear Photograph,
All those years ago you stood here in the country, ready to marry Mom and spend the rest of your life together. Now 57 years later she spends each day with you as you gradually forget and slip further away from us. But love and family endure, and we cherish each day we still have together.
Love, Your Family
#9.
Dear Photograph,
A friend snapped this picture of us nearly ten years ago, when we were just a couple of kids. We were only friends, but I had a secret crush on him and he had a secret crush on me. When he finally kissed me later that year, I told him “I wish I could keep you” and he said, “I wish you would.” And I did. We came back to this spot on the eve of our seventh wedding anniversary.
Love,
Jen
#10.
Dear Photograph,
Almost 50 years later and I have not lived more than 5 miles from this exact spot.
Chris
#11.
Dear Photograph,
I burned you once. I’m sorry for that. You take me back to a time where I thought the road we traveled would always be the one we traveled together. Now our roads have led us to different places and I’m no longer holding his comforting hands. We may not have discovered everlasting love along this pathway but I know that time will catch up to us and that our roads will cross again…it’ll only be a matter of time.
Love Always and Forever,
Chas
#12.
Dear Photograph,
Remember when we decided to see if shrink wrap would hold my brother Joe to a tree? This made us laugh so much!
Annie Enderle
#13.
Dear Photograph,
Thanks for bringing him back for a minute.
Kj
#14.
Dear Photograph,
Letting go of my mother’s hand the first day of school was always the hardest.
Liz
#15.
Dear Photograph,
For one brief moment, this murky little duck pond became the most beautiful place on earth.
Greg
#16.
Dear Photograph,
At the time it was not common for a man to walk behind a pram.
I’m still proud of my father.
Eva Willemier Westra
#17.
Dear Photograph,
My parents tried forever to teach me how to ride a bike with no training wheels. One sunny afternoon in 1999 they looked out the window and saw my neighbour, Jenna, running alongside me cheering me on. My parents ran out and took this photo, which is one I’ll always remember. Thanks for getting me off my training wheels Jenna!
Keaton
#18.
Dear Photograph,
I drained 3’s all day!
Janet
#19.
Dear Photograph,
Dad never took a picture of me, ever. Then Inoticed his reflection in the glass. Happy Father’s Day, Dad.
Anonymous
#20.
Dear Photograph,
Dad always had the comfiest shoulder.
David
#21.
Dear Photograph,
I’m so proud my boys childhood dreams were made of bravery, honor and valor. Fifteen years later, dreams really do come true.
Nancy
Dear Photograph has been listed in Time Magazine’s 10 best blogs, and Jones has now also been given a book and movie deal revolving around the website’s concept.