A large part of what drives me to make pictures is the desire to remember. And photographs do help – they can bring memories rushing to the surface as quickly and painfully as if they were happening all over again. But they can leave out so much too. Forget so much.

Like how on Easter Sunday we gathered at my parents house but Hannah was three hours late or that I drank whiskey with my dad and we fell asleep in the living room or that Joey’s dad was in the hospital from a motorcycle accident or that Sarah’s sweet new bunny was bought as a consolation for not getting into the college she wanted to with her boyfriend or how the trees in the back yard were in full bloom or Petey’s awkwardness at fourteen or so much more. But there are traces of these elements in the images, if you read between the lines. In a way looking at so many photographs over the years has made me less able to respond to an image emotionally, better able to respond intellectually. On a rare occasion though I will stumble across a photo from years past and suddenly, so suddenly, it all comes back. Every detail, every crack in the facade and I remember what it was like to be there and it is beautiful.  

Here are a few images are from some recent family gatherings, including Easter. 

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Matt Eich is a photographer who is based in Norfolk, Virginia.  His column, “In My Back Yard” appears every other Wednesday.  He is a Founding Member of LUCEO Images.

  A large part of what drives me to make pictures is the desire to remember. And photographs do help - they can bring memories rushing to the surface as quickly and painfully as if they were happening all over again. But they can leave out so much too. Forget so much. Like how on Easter ...