Family Photographs: Memories, Narratives, Place

Abstract

At Christmas my brother-in-law gave my parents a framed photograph comprising three images of beachscapes (Figure 5.1). At first glance, I thought this was a strange choice of gift. The images were attractive but seemed generic. Although he is a keen photographer and had obviously taken the pictures himself, I could not help wondering why he had chosen them. My mother was also unsure how to respond and my sister intervened, prompting my parents to look closely at the individual photographs. It became apparent they had been taken at a particular beach — the figures of my parents could be identified in the background of one, and the striking ‘dragon’s teeth’ that run the length of the beach dominated another. Our reception to the gift changed as the images gained meaning through being tied to this specific place: a place that held considerable significance within the family.