Snapshot: A Moment In Time

Snapshot. A word seldom heard these days. When it is spoken, it is likely by someone much older, someone from a bygone era. When I was growing up, I recall hearing my aunt refer to photos as snapshots. At that time, they had narrow white borders and every photo was black and white.

Although snapshot seems like an appropriate way to describe a photograph—a moment in time—the word actually originated as a hunting term. What it meant was to take a quick shot without careful aim. It wasn't until the introduction of the Kodak Brownie camera (1900) that it was used to describe photographs taken with a handheld camera. Its original meaning was eventually forgotten.

There are certain snapshots that command attention. This is one of them. It shows my husband and our children after a day at the circus. (We had another daughter not long after.) As I look through my photographs, this is the one that consistently stands out. Maybe because I remember the day so well. Three happy children with clown faces and funny hats... a memory worth holding onto.

Circus World opened north of Haines City, Florida in February of 1974. It was to be the winter quarters for the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus but things didn't go as well as expected. In 1986, after changing hands a number of times, the park closed its doors.

I'm glad that we lived in Florida while the park was still in operation and that we had the opportunity to go there. Otherwise I wouldn't have this special moment in time snapshot.