The meaning behind a photo

Why context is so important

Hello fellow photography lovers,

Last week I walked into the local mortuary for a condolence. Not immediately the place where you think of photography, but as I stepped inside, an image flashed through my mind: a photo I once took of the façade. A sleek, architectural picture. And yes, that may sound like a somewhat macabre choice for a photograph. But wait a moment before you pass judgement.

Because here comes the story: that building, which is now a mortuary, once stood on the site of my childhood paradise. A giant pile of mud and clay - leftover building material for a new housing estate. For us neighborhood kids, it was a playground full of adventure. We made slides out of cardboard, built forts, and were guaranteed to come home covered in mud (much to the dismay of our mothers).

So for me, that picture tells something very different from what you might think at first glance. It is not a bleak image of a building, but a gateway to childhood memories.

And therein lies exactly the magic…