"Because We Forget, We Take Photos" - The Relationship Between Forgetting and Photography | Knowledge #344
Cover photo by 侑奈
Photography is often described as "recording," but it is not merely about preserving facts. We live our lives forgetting many things, and that is precisely why photography holds meaning.
In this article, we explore how photography relates to "forgetting" and how it quietly accompanies our memories.
Photo by MASUMI NAKAMURA
Photography as a "Device for Remembering"
Looking at photos can suddenly bring back forgotten scents, atmospheres, and emotions. Photography not only visualizes fragments of the past but also reactivates what the heart remembers. It is a way of recording memories that is closer to sensory experiences than a diary.
Photo by ゆっこー
We Want to Preserve Because We Forget
Whether it's a special day or an ordinary moment, people forget quickly. However, photography defies this "fate of forgetting" by capturing a moment. The act of pressing the shutter itself is a quiet expression of the wish "not to forget."
Photo by TEN
Photos You Forgot You Took
When you revisit photos you took in the past, you might be surprised, thinking, "I took this?" These photos serve as clues to remember what you once valued. Photography can also be a means of reconnecting with the "self you had forgotten."
Photo by kitokazetooto
