Departures
Written by Charity Pilkey, April 2003
To every photograph, there exits the negative from which the subject was derived. And here stand many subjects. Some would think themselves the photographer, or more defined as the photojournalist. Others, of course, are the born model. While some still, would rather not be depicted as either. But all are indeed, to me and my purpose, if not in reality thesubject.
The subjects in a photograph taken here, before each one’s destination, and yet also, after their arrival. Each one has a negative; a strip like that of a comic, but more properly described as a slide-show. And whether their departure is but for a little while or if it is expected to be for an eternity, there will exist forever in their mind’s eye, this place of departure and the happenings that brought them here.
This place where everyone holds ready their passport, will be stamp now in each one’s life passport. A stamp which cannot be erased. For some, who in the future may not mentally think on this day or place, nor the reasons why they are here, it is more of a black & white negative that fades with time (but always remains). And for others, who may for days, or months or decades to come try to forget the reasons and happenings – the other faces on the film, this place will remain a vivid, colourful picture etched on their minds, no matter how hard they try to forget.
For some this is a place of mourning, like that of a cemetery – separating lives unwantingly. For some it represents the gates of opportunity and adventures to come. Others still, find it so familiar that it feels like home; the place of in-betweens, the place of many “goodbyes” – farewells that are necessary for new “hellos”.
A place of departures that mingles hopes and fears, and regrets and aspirations.
A place where family and commerce, business and tourism, natives and foreigners, first-timers and frequent flyers, all intermingle.
A place where we are all able to be together for at least one united purpose in the masses of reasoning: that when the flight is called, and the gate opened, we will embark on a journey together.
Putting our trust in the pilot, and in the machinery, in the hopes of arrival at the destination (that we have no guarantee of ever reaching).
If we reach that place, we will go on to take many more photographs, and to be, for a little while longer, the subjects on the negative of history,
If, however, the destination is not reached, each one was on the correct flight.
And although together we departed, our arrivals may not all be at the same gate.
But this I know, my gate will be Heaven’s.