A Prelude To You
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"This is my message, in a very new bottle, set adrift in time." Jim leaves a message for future generations.
Transcript
"Once I saw a shooting star explode... and light the sky bright green for the briefest of moments. That's what we are - shooting stars. We light the world a little while we are here. But when we have passed on, our light is only a memory we will leave behind - dimming a little more every new day.
I wanted to capture some of my light, hold it fast so it lasts forever. Appropriate language for a photographer really - capturing light. And being one by profession, it seems even more appropriate that I write this brief autobiography in images.
I'm not dying now - no more than anyone else passing through this world anyway. I am merely aware that our time here is painfully short and that I will never be able to converse with my descendants beyond the next generation or two.
So I wanted to say hi to all of you who have come to be after my passing - which was hopefully a long time after I made this!
This is my message in a very new bottle, set adrift in time. When it reaches you, its true meaning may have been lost. So I want you to know that I was thinking of you - here and now - with the same love and fondness that I have for my children.
Here I am. This is what it's all been leading towards me, here, now. Hi!"
An interview with the author
Tell us about yourself Jim.
I am a father, teacher and photographer-artist. I lead community and school based photographic workshops.
Was the workshop useful?
Taking part in the digital storytelling project provided me with an extra service that I can share with others, spreading the word and knowledge. At the moment the workshops I run are limited to still images, I feel that the skills I have gained here will allow me to expand on this, and therefore on opportunities I can give to others.
What's your story about?
This story is a way of saying "Hi!" to a generation yet to come, a long time after my passing. We are like shooting stars lighting the world a little while we are here, leaving a memory behind which dims a little more each day. I wanted to capture some of my light, hold it fast so that it lasts forever.
Your comments
"I totally agree with you. It's very important to hold generations of stuff for your children. It's very important and pleasurable. Thanks very much."
Matt, Chelmsford, England."the warmth of your message. I am from the Duckett family in Pennsylvania in America, and a family researcher, so for me it meant discovering, quite by accident, "one of our own". Many thanks for your rich moment in time. Warm regards."
Loretta Myrter, Gettysburg, Pa., U.S.A."loved this film and the message you sent out. I found it very emotional. I think you have hit the nail on the head for me re. family history. I have spent the last eight years looking back at where I came from and had only thought briefly about the coming generations other than to record what I have found so that it will go on and can be a foundation for the generations that follow. I think after watching your film that I too, without knowing it, want to say hi this is me to all the generations those coming generations. Thank you."
Doreen Powell, Fife, Scotland.
