A Place of Permanence

A friend of my mother’s lived with her husband for 30 years, and every year he took a photo of her in the same place with the same bouquet of flowers. And they ended up with a photographic progression where she changed and nothing else did. 

If N and I wanted to do something like this, we’d find it hard to come up with a place to take the photo that would remain the same for 30 years. We always relocate! 

N suggested McDonald’s. And instead of a bouquet, we could hold Big Macs. That’s definitely a possibility but the problem is, McDonald’s doesn’t mean anything to us. I have to look up the spelling every time I mention it. 

Does anybody have any suggestions? 

7 thoughts on “A Place of Permanence

  1. Pick a classic piece of furniture that you’re sure you’ll keep, and take a picture around it.

    Say, a picture of you two at the dining table, eating the same dish (which is visually distinct) every year on the same day.

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      1. We started this year, too. Made a raspberry tart on the 4th of July which also happens to be my dad’s birthday. Sent him the picture and then realized it would be cool if we did this every year.

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  2. You could take a picture under a tree each year. It does not have to be the same tree, but has to be beautiful / interesting.

    To me, there is something depressing in the idea of the exact same picture, but with myself aging in it. Different trees would make it not so same as taking a picture around the same piece of furniture, it would be (to me) just the right degree of variation.

    Also, what about including Klara in your photos? Or taking two pictures both as a couple and with her?

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  3. Figure out a “timeless” look for clothes that can be replicated anywhere or with changing bodies and look for a prop that can be replicated anywhere.

    Figure out a pose that is easy and natural and distinctive that you can adopt.

    Embrace the fluidity of how as the people age, everything but the clothes and pose change.

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