Old Trains and Memories

With the closing of our old Railway Station at Tanjong Pagar, people are flocking to capture their last memories. It’s incredible when I think that the trains that have been running on these tracks since 1935.

I was nostalgic too and took a couple of shots myself. Somehow taking photos helps me capture and retain in my memory, moments in my life that increase in significance as the years go by. Cameras help me mentally zoom in on what I would have otherwise missed. I am so much more aware when I am behind a lens.

I was cowed by the professional photographers with their humongous tripods and even video cameras. I think it might have been a photographic society on an outing. As I tucked into my prata, I watched them in action.

For me photo taking is personal and somehow pictures I have taken myself, no matter how bad, have a stronger hold over me. I can almost transport myself back to the moment and relive it, especially when it’s photos taken during a happy family occasion like a wedding or birthday.

Old family photos are very precious to me and priceless. In a way, digital cameras have done away with the romance of taking photos the old way. The thrill of getting the roll of film developed. I remember how excited we were when we collected the photos which took what seemed like a whole week to develop, when I was a kid.

Photos taken by my dad were the best ones ever, because I knew he was looking at me and I was smiling for him. It might be Father’s Day today, but I think about him every day.