Pictures Don’t Do It Justice

Last week we met my sister and her husband for my first trip to the Smokies. The weather was clear and the scenery magnificent. Earlier this week, I picked up my pictures from this trip – yes, I’m an old school 35mm film camera and dropping film off to be developed girl. I have a small digital camera, a retirement gift, but I prefer the film option.

The pictures are beautiful. I even captured the wild turkey who sauntered in front of the car. The stranger who took a picture of the four of us at the base of Klingman’s Dome did a great job taking the picture even though he couldn’t see instant results. I’m a little too close to get a clear picture of the dwarf Iris, but I’m hoping Lori will share the picture she took of it with her iPhone. 😁

As beautiful as my photographs are, they don’t do justice to my memory. When you’re there, up in the mountains, you’re closer to God and breathing in His majesty. The colors seem richer. The air is pure and clear. The pictures don’t capture the full aura of the place, the hint of magic all around you.

The pictures will be wonderful reminders to make me search my memories for last Friday afternoon’s first drive into the park or last Saturday’s drive on the Cade’s Cove Loop. The pictures are important keys to unlock those memories, but not nearly as sweet as the experiences they recorded.

So, even though they’re not as good as seeing the real thing, I’ll keep snapping photographs, so I’ll have something to enjoy when I am an old woman who needs to wake up long dormant memories. Hope you get out today to make some memory pictures for yourself, whether you have film or not! Enjoy!