To the old man in my photography class

The class hadn't even started and you already stood out to me. The one old man in a group of teenagers/twentysomethings. But it wasn't because of your grey hair or your countless wrinkles, it was your bitter scowl. The way you didn't even have to look at anyone to stare us all down. Regardless, I still sat down two chairs away from you. Something no one else had dared to do, yet. We weren't far into the class and you had already proven my first impression to be spot on.

When the professor asked us if we had already taken pictures before, you immediately jumped in and had to ask whether taking pictures with phones counted, because you didn't think so. Now, this is not the thing that I want to talk about. That's a discussion for another time. I want to talk about what happened later on, when we were talking about the reason for taking pictures.

Once again you jumped in right away, though this time, your response almost moved me. You said that since you were old, you wanted a way to preserve your memories and to share them with others. You phrased it better, of course, and it was clear that you had thought about this for a very long time. Maybe that's the reason you decided to take classes (or this one class) in this university, despite how old you are and how expensive it is. Maybe you saved up enough money your whole life to finally be able to take this one class. I don't know. Maybe that is the reason you are so bitter, because don't get me wrong, bitter. You. Are.

Your answer might have been touching, but it was what you did afterwards that bothered me. After giving your explanation, you kinda let shine through that you didn't believe that there was any other reason anyone would want to take a picture. Of course, the professor took this opportunity to ask the whole class if there are any other reasons, because "there are plenty". At that you already growled silently (though the whole class was able to hear it). I know you don't like it when the one person closest to you in age disagrees with you. But you should have checked ratemyprofessor... Then you would have known that he has pretty strong opinions.

Anyway, when the first person answered something that basically came down to "store memories for future generations", you looked smug. So far no one was able to prove you wrong. One person answered pretty much the same thing as you and no one else dared to raise their hand. So, of course, I took it as my job to wipe that grin of your face.

Because, let me tell you, there are so many reasons to take photographs. 
They are there to prove a point that a thousand words can't even come close to convey. Think about that one photograph of the little three-year-old Alan Kurdi, who died in his attempt to cross the mediterranean to get away from death and destruction in his own country. It was this picture that once again brought the attention to the refugee crisis worldwide. This one photo journalist achieved what thousands of other, regular journalists, hadn't been able to do.

At the same time (or completely separately), they can transfer emotions. With the picture previously mentioned, some may feel grief, others may feel a rebellion stirring inside them. Then, there are also pictures of cute kittens or sweet little puppies, they don't tell a story, but they do make you feel happy or make you go "awwww". You might see a picture of grey clouds and feel gloomy, a picture of a proposal and feel delighted, a picture of your family and feel blessed.

Others might take pictures, so you get an idea of their perspective. Do you remember that picture of the girl sitting on a couch in her underwear, all her rolls showing and candy wrappers everywhere? The professor told us she had an eating disorder, so that one picture was her way of showing anyone who cared what she actually sees in the mirror. You commented on it, saying that it must have been distorted, because her thighs looked unproportionally big compared to her body. I can tell you that's because of perspective. Both by the position of the camera, but probably also her vision of herself. 

And then there is also the one reason I said in class. "Just for the beauty of it." Because sometimes you want something pretty to look at, just to be able to say: "Damn, that's pretty."

So, yes, pictures tell stories and may help you to preserve your memories. But, you bitter, old man, there are so many other reasons, even if you don't want to believe that I barely scraped the surface.
I wish for me to be able to show this to you and for you to turn out to be not as bitter as you make yourself out to be.

I really hope time may prove us both wrong.

Sincerely,

-N