It’s one of the most overused, worn-out clichés: “A picture is worth a thousand words.”
It means a picture can tell an intricate and interesting story – one full of detail – and it’s couldn’t be more true for photos of Squamish.
Posted on Sunday evening, a photo taken of a herd of Roosevelt elk fording the Squamish River got a record-breaking 910 likes on The Chief’s Facebook page in only two days. Crossing the river in a line, 34 or so elk travelling in two groups surprised participants in Brackendale’s annual eagle count and one of our reporters was lucky to get the shot.
This photo not only shows that the grand Roosevelt elk, the largest sub-species in North America, are alive and well, but also drew awe that herds are able to survive in the forest so close to humans. It’s an excellent example that a picture can tell an important story without having to use any words.
Often, Squamish residents email in their photos and we post them to our Facebook page. We are lucky to have great local professional photographers, some of whom freelance for The Chief, and hobbyist shutterbugs who are willing to share their work.
The photos often show the pristine nature that surrounds our town – a stunning pink sunset, the snow-capped mountains, an icy river. Other photos show the man-made beauty Squamish has to offer – lights shining in windows from the Mamquam Blind Channel, an ice-fishing hole nearly frozen over, a group of kids tobogganing down a hill at an elementary school.
Each photo tells a story and has the possibility of drawing all sorts of emotions. The photos show how proud Squamish residents are of where they live and how they don’t take the area’s natural beauty for granted.
There are also the important photos that accompany the news and community stories that we write every week.
Besides being enjoyed in the present, photos are also part of the historical record. The Chief recently started posting vintage photos once a week for “throwback Thursday.”
Last week was a black-and-white photo of three young women skiing in Squamish in the early 1950s, courtesy of the library archives. A photo can ignite many questions. What were these girls lives like and do they have any relatives still living in Squamish?
No matter its subject, each of our favourite photos tell a story about what we, as Squamish residents, hold most dear.
If you have a local photo to share, email [email protected].
